So, here's the next chapter for you. It's a little bit shorter, but I felt that it was complete with what I put into it. I needed to get something written to keep my mind occupied. My grandfather is having massive surgery tomorrow/today depending on when this posts... (June 10, 2013) It could take anywhere from 12 hours up... so if you're religious at all, please pray for him, or at least keep him in your thoughts. He's been battling oral cancer and now he's going through massive reconstruction surgery on the roof of his mouth... he's 80 years old.

Okay, now that that's out, here's your next chapter. As I said, it's a little shorter than the others, I hope that's not much of an issue.

The First 24
Chapter 31

June 13 – 9:00AM

The physical therapy had not been helping. At all. Quinn found herself in more pain and discomfort than she had been before she'd started – just as she feared. Just as she had thought, it was just like the last time she'd attempted therapy for her back pain. It made it worse. Even Rachel's magical massages couldn't help to ease the pain she felt.

She shifted yet again on the exam table she was laying on. The only time Quinn ever felt comfortable now was reclined on the sofa, or propped up in bed. Lying flat didn't help her at all, it only pulled and put pressure on the bad areas of her lower back.

"How are we doing today?" Dr. Blair asked as she entered the room with Quinn's file in her hand. Her smile fell, though, when she looked at the way Quinn's face contorted. "That bad?"

"I told you the physical therapy wouldn't work." The blonde glared at her doctor.

The older woman sighed as she sat in the chair beside her patient, Rachel was sitting along the wall. It was a given that the brunette was at her wife's side for every appointment. She'd yet to miss one, and Dr. Blair figured she wouldn't miss any of them. "Scale of 1 to 10, what would you rate it right now?" She carefully helped Quinn to sit up so she could listen to her breathing and get her other vital signs.

"8." Was all she said before sitting back down on the bed.

Quinn cringed when Dr. Blair pressed on her stomach. She always did hate exams. Whether it be for her child or for her. The doctor always seemed to have the magical ability to find the most tender spots on her body.

"Has the baby been restless lately?" The doctor lifted Quinn's gown to get to her swollen stomach.

The blonde just nodded. The baby was moving around quite a bit over the past few days and making her even more uncomfortable. "It's like she never sleeps…"

"Just like you Quinn." Rachel stood to join her wife. "I know you aren't sleeping at night honey," she placed her hand atop Quinn's to offer a little bit of support to her.

Dr. Blair placed the paddle onto Quinn's stomach and soon the room was filled with the sound of a quick, steady, beating heart. The monitor also came to life with images of a very healthy, very lively little girl. The image quickly took Quinn away from the pain she was feeling. Nothing mattered at that moment except the sight and sound of their baby girl.

"Still showing very healthy Quinn. But," she paused after removing the paddle and cleaning her skin, "I am going to order you to bed rest for the remainder of your pregnancy."

"What?" Quinn's head whipped around to look at the doctor.

"With as much pain as you're in, it's better to be able to rest. Being uncomfortable will only cause strain to the baby. I'll make sure you get every form you need for your job. But, this is what is best for you and the baby."

"Honey, please…" Rachel's hand came to rest on Quinn's shoulder. She could tell her wife was upset about the new orders. "I know you don't want anything to happen to the baby, and honestly, I don't want anything to happen to you."

Quinn just sighed in defeat. She wanted to fight the decision to put her on bed rest. There was no way though. Rachel was too headstrong whenever it came to her health. Throughout the years, whenever Quinn was sick, Rachel would literally force her into bed so she could rest. It would be completely pointless now that she was with child. One simple look from her wife was all it took to completely give in. There was, in fact, one thing that Quinn was well aware of…

Bed rest was going to drive her insane.

June 15 – 6:00PM

The movie on the TV was only there for background noise. Just something to help fill the silence in the house. Rachel had been gone most of the day doing a few re-shoots for her movie.

For the most part, Quinn simply slept and relaxed. She hated admitting it, but the doctor's orders were, in fact, helping her pain level. Once she woke up, she spent about an hour in the bath, then tidied up some. Now, she was stretched out on the sofa with some cable movie that she wasn't even paying attention to on the TV.

She missed her wife though. Rachel had been gone since shortly after ten and had no idea when she would be home. Quinn turned her head to return her attention to the television. She had no idea what the movie was about, nor did she even care to find out. It passed her time. Except for the occasional text message from Santana about the new male intern she had in her office, she was sure she'd fall asleep again.

Santana: I swear Q he follows me around like a fucking puppy

Quinn: He loves you lol

Santana: Fuck you

Quinn cracked up laughing. Ever since the Latina had come out of the closer, the sight of men disgusted her. Granted, they disgusted her long before that, but she never truly admitted it until she was completely comfortable with herself.

The blonde smiled at her phone when it went off again; showing a new message to her from Santana.

Santana: When are you and Rach coming over for dinner Britt wants to know

Quinn: Oh you know it's you who wants us to come over. It's not just B

Santana: Course. Gotta make sure you're takin care of yourself and my baby

Quinn: Rachel wouldn't have it any other way. Spent my whole day sleeping and laying around

Santana: Must be nice to lay around all day

Quinn sighed. She wished it wasn't the case. If it wasn't for that wreck all those years ago, she wouldn't be stuck around the house while everybody else was allowed to have their lives and come and go as they pleased. In a way, she felt useless.

Quinn: Gives me too much time to think

And thinking is all she'd done. Running through every scenario in her head. She was still trying to comprehend the fact that Jim was dead. It didn't seem real. It seemed like one of her many lifelike dreams that had manifested into her day to day life. It wouldn't have been the first time that her dreams had started to take over her reality, but that was another idea that she didn't want in her head at all.

She thought back to the dreams she had that night she discovered his death. Dreams – more like nightmares – memories even. She was doing so good with pushing her memories aside until that news article brought everything crashing right back down. She felt herself jumping at most little noises and even Rachel touching her caused her to tense up. It seemed to be a never-ending cycle for her.

Santana: Thinking about what?

Quinn: The baby. What happened, those things

Santana: Need to talk?

Quinn: I'm good… promise

She shifted onto her side and pulled the throw blanket from the back of the sofa to cover herself up with. She briefly contemplated the idea of taking a little nap before Rachel got home. But, before she could get too far into her thought process, she heard the front door open. Soon after, it was followed by the soft thud of Rachel's purse hitting the stand.

"Honey?" The starlet called out for her wife.

"In the living room," she made no attempt to move. She already knew Rachel would come to her, whether she stood up to greet her or not. Her attention diverted to her phone when it vibrated in her hand.

Santana: Ya know where I'm at if you want to chat

Quinn: Thank you. Rachel just got home, I'll ask her about dinner

"You better not be working." Rachel scolded with a smile on her face. She knew Quinn was already going stir crazy from her inability to go to work now. The brunette insisted on giving her a hard time whenever she caught her on her blackberry. It was just enough to lighten the mood of Quinn being stuck on bed rest.

"Talking to Santana," Quinn graciously accepted the kiss that her wife gave her, "so, close enough to working." She smiled softly when Rachel let out a giggle. "She was asking when we're coming over for dinner. Claimed Britt wanted to know."

Rachel lifted Quinn's feet to sit at the far end of the sofa. She then pulled the blonde's legs onto her lap and started working her fingers into the muscles. "Oh, we both know it's her who wants us there more. How about we go this weekend, before Beth comes up?"

Quinn just nodded. She'd text Santana either later that night, or wait until the morning to do so. Soon after, the blonde's eyes fell closed as she started to completely relax. It was a mixture of Rachel being there, plus Rachel massaging her calves. Simply being near her wife was enough to calm all of her nerves. Adding in the fact she was receiving a massage – she feared she'd fall asleep on her.

"Have you eaten dinner yet?" Rachel's soft voice pulled Quinn out of her pending slumber.

"Yea, I ate a sandwich about an hour ago."

"Do you want anything else?"

"Not right now. I don't want to move. Too comfortable." She shifted onto her back again and stretched. Her arms raised up above her head and her back arched some. Quinn couldn't help the way she winced when her hip popped. "Okay, apparently my body wasn't though."

Rachel just shook her head. It was nice to have her old wife back. Even if it wasn't 100% just yet, each passing day brought her closer and closer to her Quinn. "Have you talked to Beth about her and her friend visiting?" Rachel continued working her fingers into the muscles of Quinn's calves, smirking when she drew a satisfied groan from the taller woman.

"I talked to her some this morning. I still can't believe I'm going to meet her in a week…"

"What do you think she'll be like? You know, when you actually meet her. Everybody's different in person."

That was one of the things that Quinn fears. Not so much what she would think of Beth – she'd love her regardless – it was what Beth would think of her. "Based on how much we've talked, she's a really sweet girl… I'm just worried about what she'll think of me."

"Honey, don't fret about that. You're an amazing, strong, determined woman and I'm sure she's seen that and figured that out just from talking to you and following the news stories. She looks up to you and everything you've gone through in life. From having her and giving her up for adoption because you wanted to get her a better life, to getting through the incident, and now, being pregnant from said incident and keeping the baby. She's even excited to have a little sister, you showed me the text messages remember? Then the next day, she continued talking about the smile on her face and how she was so excited about it. There's no reason to worry."

"I'm just scared…"

Rachel sighed. She understood where her wife was coming from. Sure, everybody would feel the same way after not seeing someone for 23 years. Especially when that someone was your own flesh and blood. In all honesty, she was scared too. Mostly scared for her wife and how the entire meeting was going to go. Rachel silently prayed that everything would be perfect during Beth and Jess' stay with them.

"Please don't stress yourself Quinn. It's not good for you. We still have over a week until Beth and her friend will arrive here. That's plenty of time to prepare for all possible outcomes."

"Eight days Rachel. Beth will be here in eight days…" Her eyes finally opened and her hands came to rest on the swollen home of her daughter. A smile played on her lips when one of Rachel's hands found hers and interlocked their fingers together. "It seems so far away, yet at the same time, it feels like it's tomorrow. It's just so overwhelming… I'm going to meet my daughter."

Rachel smiled at the words that left Quinn's mouth. She was excited too. She remembered not being able to go to the hospital when Quinn was in labor. Rachel wanted to, but the blonde wouldn't let her. She talked her into staying behind at the competition, because at least one member of the team had to be there or it would have been an automatic disqualification. Rachel was only able to see pictures of the beautiful baby girl that had been born that day. She wasn't able to see her with her own eyes like the rest of the team was before she was whisked away to be with her new family.

"I'm going to meet your daughter too, and you know what Quinn? I'll be there to support you the entire time, no matter what happens. And do you know why?" She continued speaking before Quinn could cut in with an answer, "because I love you with all of my heart. Nothing has changed over all of these years – nothing ever will."

"Thanks Rach." It was all Quinn said before closing her eyes again. It was all she had to say to her wife to draw out a smile. Rachel knew that words had never been a very strong point for Quinn, especially over the past six months, but every time she spoke words of gratitude, it was all she ever needed to hear from her wife, to know that everything was alright.

Not much to this chapter, next chapter will be Quinn and Rachel meeting Beth and her friend. I'm going to try to make that one a little longer and full of emotion.

Let me know what you think :D