Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
The weekend came around fast. Quinn and Rachel were indeed getting into their pinkest dresses like Maggie said. It was 8 o'clock Sunday morning and people would start arriving at 10 o'clock. Rachel screwed up her face, she wasn't really a 'pink dress' sort of person but the dress fit and Maggie wouldn't care just as long as they looked pretty and behaved. Quinn was sitting on her bed rolling on her clear tights. She reached for her pink dress, pulling it over her head. She crossed over to the mirror and stood beside Rachel.
"Well, don't we look delightful!" She giggled. "Do me up will you?"
Rachel smiled and reached for the zipper at the back of the dress. She zipped it but it only went up, three quarters of the way. She tried to force it up but it wouldn't budge.
"We have a problem." she said looking to Quinn.
"What is it?" Quinn frowned.
"You won't zip up..." she told her.
"What?" Quinn cried.
They looked down to Quinn's stomach where slight swelling had started to appear. The blonde cupped her stomach, sighing.
"How many weeks did the doctor say you were?" Rachel asked.
"Nearly eight weeks." Quinn said.
"Have you even thought about telling Maggie?" Rachel asked.
"I want to...I really do, I'm scared." Quinn told her.
Rachel sighed.
"I know, but she's going to find out sooner or later..." she said.
She tried the zipper again but it didn't move.
"I'll go and grab some safety pins and you can throw a little cardigan over it so nobody can see the back." Rachel said.
She moved to go but Quinn grabbed her hand, spinning her round.
"Rachel, I'm so sorry I've dragged you in to all of this, I know I've been less than nice to you these past years..."
"It's nothing really..."
"No it is! I'm pregnant to a boy who isn't my boyfriend and you could have run out and told everyone but you didn't. You helped me, took me to the doctors...and I know you're going to stick by me when this all blows up so, thank you, thank you."
Rachel stood, mouth open, all of this, from Quinn. The blonde looked to her feet.
"It's no problem Quinn, just because we stopped talking, doesn't mean I stopped caring."
Quinn smiled, her eyes shining.
"Thanks."
"So you've said." Rachel laughed, squeezing her hand. "Now, go find a cardigan and I'll get the pins."
She smiled once more before turning and walking out of the room. Quinn took a breath and turned back to the mirror. The baby was growing and she was getting bigger too, she would have to tell Maggie soon before she found out on her own. She would also have to tell Finn, she wondered how that would go...Oh, darling, I'm pregnant and it's not yours, it's your bestfriend's...she looked up in an attempt to stop the tears which were starting to form behind her eyes. She took a breath in and out. Today she needed to think about the kids and their futures. Today wasn't about her, it was about them. She dug into her wardrobe, in the back of her mind though she knew she was just putting off telling Maggie and everyone about the baby. She wanted to but she felt she couldn't, not yet.
xxxxxx
"Puck!"
Puck did a double take, walking backwards passing the kitchen again.
"What?" Jamie was crouched down in front of 4 year old Bebe, trying to braid her dark hair. He looked up, losing the plait.
"Ah man!" he sighed. "Beebs my girl, go find one of the girls to do your hair, it's just not working."
She nodded and skipped past Puck, who ruffled the top of her head, making her hair even more of a mess than it already was. Jamie stood up.
"Go get changed, it's nearly half nine." he told him.
Puck looked at Jamie, who was wearing a shirt and formal trousers, a big change to his normal t-shirts and jeans look. He was only thirty but in all his finery he did not look it.
"Dude, what are you wearing?" Puck smirked.
Jamie folded his arms.
"What you should be, now go!" he said.
"I'll go for jeans but no way am I wearing a shirt...I don't even think I own a shirt." Puck said.
"I ironed you one, it's on your bed." Jamie told him.
"You ironed me one? Can you even iron?" Puck asked.
"I can. Now go on, get changed."
"No way man."
"No way man, what? What are we 'No-waying' at?"
Puck jumped and a second later he felt a hand on his back, he instantly knew who it was and tensed a little.
"He is refusing to change." Jamie said.
Puck shot him a death glare.
"Well, stop refusing and get a move on, I want to see you all smart." Maggie said brightly.
"Okay." Puck said, simply.
Jamie and Maggie exchanged glances.
"Okay?" Jamie asked.
"Yes...well...y'know...help the little ones and all that." Puck stuttered, not quite meeting their eyes, especially not Maggie's.
"Go on then." Maggie said, looking at her watch. "You have fifteen minutes."
Puck nodded and hurried off. When he was gone Jamie turned to Maggie. Although she was getting on in age, she never hid her age and would tell anyone she was 52, she still had a glint in her eye that made her beautiful. She was standing in her black skinny jeans with a light pink shirt and a pair of black heels to top it off. He watched her apply her lipstick in her coffee spoon reflection. She turned suddenly and caught him looking at her.
"What?" she said.
He shook his head smiling.
"Do you think I look okay?" she asked him, feathering out her hair slightly.
"You look lovely." he told her.
She put down her spoon.
"I'm not supposed to look 'lovely' I'm supposed to look professional!" she told him.
He laughed.
"Professional and lovely!" he said.
"Hmm..." She poured milk into her coffee. "Do you want some coffee?" she asked.
"Oh no, you're okay."
She shrugged an okay. They were silent for a while before Jamie spoke again.
"Maggie." He said. "What's with Puck?"
"What do you mean?" she asked, turning to look at him.
"I was nearly begging for him to put on a shirt just then but he wouldn't, then you came in and he went straight away." he told her.
"He knows I mean business." Maggie laughed.
"Hmm..." Jamie said thoughtfully.
"What do you mean 'hmm'..." she said, rolling her eyes.
"He doesn't take orders off anyone...I mean, it's Puck!" Jamie said.
"Jamie, I don't know what you're thinking but just be thankful he went to get changed! And with time to spare!" She laughed.
She picked up her coffee and walked towards the door.
"These heels are doing my head in...give me my sand shoes any day." she muttered.
Jamie twisted his mouth, maybe the boy was just scared he would get another punishment so he was hanging off her every word. That is what he had seemed to do lately. He heard a shriek from the living room and rushed out of the kitchen, forgetting about his train of thought for now.
xxxxxx
Santana ran her fingers through the cutest residents thick black hair. Jamie had apparently failed to tame it so it was now up to her. She didn't mind though, she secretly loved the kids and would do anything for them. Bebe sat in front of her, playing with the hem of her dress, it was navy blue and matched her dark hair perfectly. She had told Santana that she wanted a braid to match the swirly black buttons on the front of the dress. She had decided to do two, one at each side, sure that the girl would love it. They sat happily on Santana's bed but before she could start, Brittany came through the door.
"'ello Brittany." Bebe chirped, dropping her 'H' because that's what Maggie did in her London accent.
Brittany smiled, brightly. Santana smiled back, then noticed her friend was still in her pyjamas.
"Britt, we have like ten minutes or something to be downstairs, why aren't you changed?" She asked.
"I don't know what to wear!" Brittany cried.
"This.."
She held up a short emerald shiny dress that had a black tie around the waist.
"...or this..."
The next one was a rose red dress, with a fitted panel top and a floaty full skirt.
"The red one." Santana said.
"The red one." Bebe repeated.
She smiled before addressing Brittany again.
"Why do you want my opinion anyway? It's not like we have to dress to impress anymore...I mean we're getting a bit old to adopt now..." she said.
"I am dressing to impress though." Brittany told her.
Santana gave her a confused look.
"Who are you impressing? Maggie..? Cos I don't really think she'll care which one, she just wants us in a dress...preferably an appropriate one..."
"My mom."
Santana dropped the piece of hair she had hold of.
"What do you mean your mom?" she asked.
"My birth mom, she got in touch with the carehome, she wants to meet me today, Maggie told me the other day." Brittany said.
Santana looked at her shocked. The blonde was so calm, her real mom was coming. She was about to wish her luck but suddenly stopped when a thought came into her head. What if Brittany's mom was coming to take her...move her in with her. She didn't know if Brittany's mom even lived in the same state. Her heart raced, her mind spinning madly. What if this, what if that...she just didn't want to lose Brittany. Brittany looked at her oddly, so did Bebe, who wasn't getting her hair done.
"San?" Brittany said, gently.
Santana blinked and realised she had rose onto her knees, she sank back down to the bed, crossing her legs.
"Santana..."
"Why didn't you tell me..?"
Brittany hung both of her dresses on the door handle and looked to the little girl on the bed.
"Bebe, go and ask Quinn to do your hair, y'know she does the best braids!" she said the the girl.
Bebe mumbled 'okay' and left them alone, going on the search for Quinn.
When she was gone Brittany sat next to Santana, crossing her legs too.
"I thought you'd be happy for me." she said.
"Why has she come back? She give you up when you were born...why would she care now?" Santana said, a little harshly.
"She's my mom..."
"She's your mother, it takes more than giving birth to someone than it does being a mom."
Brittany frowned.
"I don't know why you're so upset." she said.
"Cos she's coming to take you away!" Santana cried.
"Don't be stupid Santana, she's just coming to get to know me, she can't take me away, even I know that." Brittany said.
"But what if you get to know her and you like her and she asks you to live with her...what then?"
"That's way into the future, she still left me, I'm never going to forget that, she has a lot of making up to do. And she has to like my friends too, she doesn't get the normal privileges of a normal mom."
Santana laughed, feeling some of the panic die down.
"Hey, can I ask you something?" Brittany said.
Santana nodded.
"Will you come and meet her with me? I'm a bit scared that she won't like me." Brittany said biting her lip.
"Of course I will. I'm sorry I freaked out, it's your life and I do want what's best for you." Santana said.
"Thanks San, I love you."
"I love you too."
Brittany smiled and jumped up, she held out the red dress.
"So this one?" she said.
Santana nodded and Brittany went off to get changed. She pushed herself off the bed and went over to the dressing table mirror. She applied her cherry flavoured lipgloss and attempted her best smile. She tried to be comforted by Brittany's words and she did know the blonde would never say something she didn't mean. She couldn't help feeling this wouldn't go smoothly, and that could mean she lost Brittany or she would have to pick up the pieces when her mother left her again. When they were little they used to lie in bed and dream of having mommies. Brittany's had always been a farmers wife who would let her pick apples in the orchard. Santana had always wanted a famous mom, a mom who would be the envy of all her friends. Of course they had grown up and over the years lost these expectations. One thing that they has never lost though was the yearning for a mother. Sure they had had female care workers, Maggie being the most like a mom to them but to have a mom of your own, that was the dream. She swallowed hard, Brittany had a chance now to have that dream and Santana was going to make sure that woman was ready for her chance to be that dream. If she wasn't ready to let her pick the apples then Santana was going to make sure she did something. She wanted Brittany to be happy. She needed Brittany to be happy, she loved her.
From the other side of the room Brittany pulled in her matching red sandals, then sprung over to join Santana.
"Ready?" she asked.
Santana nodded, Brittany took her hand and they opened the door. This was going to be fine. Really.
xxxxxxx
Finn sat alone in the living room. It was ten to ten and already people were arriving. Jamie had went out early and put out tables to go along with the gazebo that was already out there. It looked nice, and summery. Which was pushing it really because the summer was nearly over. He liked the summer though was always glad when it became chillier and you knew that winter was on it's way. He could hear some of the kids upstairs hurrying around getting dressed. A small smile appeared on his face when he remembered this time when he was little. He'd dress up all smart and make himself look adoptable. In a way he was glad he had never got adopted, he had his friends around him all the time and they were his family.
"Finn, Maggie's looking for you, time to play doorman." Jamie said, popping his head through the door.
He nodded and stood up, Jamie disappeared but before he could get to follow him, little Bebe wandered in.
"Frankenteen...can you do braids?" she asked, peering up at him.
Frankenteen? The girl had obviously been spending to much time with Santana.
"Can't you ask one of the girls?" he said, needing to go.
Bebe sighed heavily and flopped down onto the couch.
"What?" Finn asked.
"I've asked everyone! Jamie couldn't do it, San couldn't and Britt sent me to find Quinn but she was throwing up in the toilet...I just want my hair done!" she cried, dramatically.
"Quinn's throwing up? What's wrong?" he asked, concerned.
"She's sad."
"Sad?"
"Yes. Cos nobody can do a braid."
Finn laughed, pulling the little girl onto his lap.
"You remind me a lot of Rachel y'know..." he said.
"I like Rachel, she's been giving me diva lessons." Bebe said.
"Oh has she now?"
Bebe nodded.
"Now can you do a braid or not..?"
Finn laughed and picked up a strand of her thick hair, a braid, how hard can it be?
xxxxxxx
The garden of the home had been transformed, as it always was on the yearly open day. They had set out two tables with green gingham table cloths draped over them for the food and information leaflet. It was a sunny day and the garden had a nice atmosphere as couples looking to adopt came in and talked amongst themselves and to Maggie and Jamie. All the kids were out already, all in their best clothes, all looking clean. They played as the couples looked on, the gooiest looks on their faces.
May was playing skipping rope with Lottie when she decided to go and get them both a cup of lemonade.
"Hello!"
7-year old May looked up, screwing up her face. A tall thin woman with an auburn bob was standing over her, smiling a little to widely. May frowned, looking around, checking if it was actually her that the the strange lady was talking to. There didn't seem to be anyone around so she looked back up.
"Hey..." she said.
The woman's face went into an 'o' shape and she clapped her hands together.
"Howard!" she cried to a short man, who was reading a leaflet Mercedes had just given him. The man looked round and the woman signalled for him to come and join her.
"Look at this little one, isn't she just the cutest?" The woman gushed.
The man, Howard, smiled at her.
"Hi." he said.
May smiled. He seemed less crazy than the woman, she assumed was his wife.
"What's your name, little one?" The woman asked her.
"May." May stated.
"What a lovely name! I'm Vera and this is my husband Howard." she said.
May nodded, unsure what to say next. She looked around and saw Rachel, she remembered what the brunette singer had said to another couple earlier.
"Sooo...are you thinking about adoption?"
The couple laughed.
"Well, you're awfully grown up aren't you!" Howard said.
May pulled a face.
"No...I'm seven, I'm still a kid."
"But you'll be a young lady soon." Vera smiled.
"Not 'til a long time yet, Rachel and Quinn are young ladies and they're way older than me." May explained.
"Oh. And Rachel and Quinn are..?"
May pointed out the two girls, standing in their pink dresses, talking to a couple.
While they were looking away, May took a peek at the leaflet in their hands. It read 'Adoption and you.'. She bit her lip. So they were looking into adoption, she looked back at them, they looked like nice people, crazy sure, but nice. May had never thought about getting adopted, all the other kids were always going on about getting their own mom and dad and dog and house. But she didn't really care for all of that, she loved being in the care home with all the rest of the kids. She had been with Maggie for what felt like the whole of her short life and she would hate to be taken away from her. Everyone loved Maggie but maybe she just loved her that bit more. No, she didn't want to be adopted, she had everything she wanted already. She had plenty of people to play with, she even had the teenagers who absolutely doted on the kids. They were like her sisters and brothers. She had her family and to a bright seven year old it made no sense being taken away from a family. Family. A sudden thought struck her and she quickly looked around, scanning the older ones for a hint of resemblance.
"So May, would you like to come and get some cake with us?" Vera asked, motioning over to the food table. They were trying to get to know her.
"Okay..." She said.
They walked over to the table and May suddenly had an idea, she threw one of her legs behind the other, tripping herself up. She landed on the edge of the patio, hurting her knee. Tears sprung to her eyes as she hadn't actually meant to hurt herself, just pretend to. The couple immediately bent down, trying to help her up and seeing if she was okay. A tear leaked from one of her big blue eyes, her lip beginning to tremble.
"I...I..." she stuttered.
"What moonpie?" Vera said, in a sickly baby voice.
"I want my...sister." she cried.
The woman glanced to her husband.
"Your sister? You have a sister?" Howard said.
He looked to the crowd of little ones.
"Which one is your sister?" he asked.
She lifted up her hand and pointed over at Quinn who was still standing with Rachel talking.
"Oh." the couple said in unison. They didn't want to adopt a 16 year old too.
"I...I'll go get her for you." Howard said standing up from his crouched position next to her.
May hadn't thought about what if one of them had actually gone to get Quinn. What if they found out she had been lying, Quinn wasn't her sister. She looked on as Howard got Quinn's attention and began talking. She saw Quinn's confused expression, then she looked over. Another tear ran down her face as her knee continued to sting. Quinn hurried over after Howard.
"She just tripped over you see. She only wanted her sister."
It looked like Quinn had got that it was her that was supposed to be May's sister. She didn't question it though just put on a smile and scooped the little girl up into her arms.
"Thanks for coming to get me..." She said, as May nuzzled into her neck.
"I'm sure she'll be fine with a plaster and some cream."
The couple smiled and said it was no problem then wondered off. Quinn said nothing as she took the girl into the house. She sat her down on a wooden chair at the kitchen table and pulled out the plaster box. May rolled up her beige trouser leg to reveal a rather large and bloody gash.
"Oo ouch!" Quinn said.
"I didn't really mean to hurt myself." May muttered.
Quinn dug about in the box, pulling out a tub of cream. She looked up at the girl from her crouched position in front of her.
"You didn't mean to hurt yourself? May, did you make yourself fall?" she asked.
The girl nodded, sniffing.
"Why did you do that?"
"I don't want to be adopted so I fell so they would ask who to get for me and I would say my sister and..."
"Wait, is that why they were saying your sister? I thought they were just being cutesy." Quinn said.
"I told them that so they would think I couldn't be separated from you." May explained.
She flinched as the cold cream hit her knee and stung.
"You're one clever little girl." Quinn smiled.
May sighed.
"Why don't you want to be adopted though honey?" she asked, laying a brightly coloured plaster over the wound.
"I already have a family!" She told her. "Right here!"
Quinn sat on a chair next to her.
"But don't you want a real family? With brothers and sisters and a mom and dad?" she asked.
"Quinnie! You and the girls are like big sisters and the boys dote on me. The little kids are like siblings, they play with me! Maggie's been here since I was born, she's the only mom I've ever known. If I'd have to be taken away from all of this, it would be hard and I'd be miserable. Why put me someplace else when I have a perfectly good family here!" May said.
Quinn was stunned. How could you answer that. The girl looked very upset so she decided not to take her back out there.
"Hey, do you want to come up to mine and Rachel's room and look at our make-up? I can put some on you if you want."
May wiped away her tears with the back of her hand and nodded.
xxxxx
"Can you see her yet?" asked Brittany craning her neck to look over the mass of people.
"I don't even know what she looks like Britt." Santana reminded her.
Brittany looked back at her.
"Neither do I."
Santana was shocked.
"You don't know what she looks like?" she said. "Then why are you looking?"
Brittany shrugged.
"I thought maybe if I saw her I'd know who she was." she said, rather sadly.
Santana stroked her arm gently.
"I'm sure she'll be here soon, don't worry." she said.
At least she hoped Brittany's mother would be here soon. The blonde had been a nervous wreck most of the morning, she was nearly jumping off the walls, with nerves and excitement. Santana herself was feeling anxious. She didn't know why this woman had suddenly got in contact, after all the years...she'd missed Brittany growing up. She was trying hard not to hate this woman already but it was difficult, especially as she wasn't here and the opening had started 15 minutes ago. Brittany was up on her toes again looking round. Santana sighed.
"Do you want a drink or something?" she asked her friend.
"Lemonade please!" came her reply.
"Fine."
She left Brittany and headed to one if the food tables. She found some plastic cups, blew the dust out of them and carefully poured her favourite cloudy lemonade into them. She was about to reach for two pink straws she thought Brittany might like when her arm knocked into someone.
"Oh, sorry."
"It's okay."
Santana turned to look at the woman who had just spoken to her. She had her back to the table, looking around as if looking for somebody. She picked up the cups and turned to the woman.
"Are you looking for someone? Maggie? One of the kids? A leaflet? The annoying short girl over there is handing them out."
The woman smiled.
"I'm looking for someone. I actually tried looking for Maggie but I couldn't find her. I'm wondering If you know a girl...goes by the name of Brittany?" she asked.
Blonde hair, blue eyes. She could tell it was the woman Brittany had been looking for for the best part of the morning. The woman could tell too.
"Oh..."
"So you do know her..." the woman said.
"Yeah...um...do you maybe want to find Maggie first? Before you see her...I don't know what has to happen." Santana stuttered.
The woman frowned, she only looked young, well, certainly not old enough to have a daughter Brittany's age. She looked nice and a little frightened.
Santana had been in a home long enough to be able to tell the sorts of people who put their kids up for adoption. It was easy to tell that Brittany's mom had been young when she had given birth. Perhaps this woman just couldn't cope with having a baby. She knew these things could be true but she also knew that it all could be different. She was going to go careful around this woman, make sure she didn't hurt Brittany. The woman looked nervous so Santana took a little pity on her, besides, she knew how excited Brittany was.
"I can see Maggie's busy." She said, motioning with her head, to the care worker. "So I'll take you to Britts...er...Brittany. But please...be gentle with her, go slow, she's, she's special."
Brittany's mom nodded her head, and whether she was ready or not, Santana led her off to the middle of the garden where Brittany was standing.
"Britt." The blonde girl spun around, smiling at her best friend. She took the drink off her, giggling at the hot pink straw. It only took Santana a moment to realise that the woman had hung back. She looked behind her, giving her a half confused, half comforting look. Brittany sipped her lemonade through her straw, blissfully unaware of what was going on in front of her. The woman watched Brittany drink then when she was done, smile at a child that past. Tears welled up in her eyes and then she suddenly rushed away. Just like that. Santana was definitely confused now, one look at her daughter and she ran off. She sighed, maybe she was getting soft in her teenage years or something, she turned back to Brittany.
"I'll be back soon, okay?" she told her.
Brittany looked up from her drink.
"Okay San, but be back soon, because my mom might get here."
Santana gave her a small smile and turned to follow the runaway mom. She found her throughout the crowds, sitting on the wooden bench next to the garden fence. When she saw Santana coming she scooted up. She put down her lemonade and they sat in silence.
"Y'know, the care worker, Miss Lorre. She showed me a picture of her but she's so much more beautiful in real life."
Santana had to think for a while before she figured out that Miss Lorre was Maggie. She smiled.
"She's beautiful inside too." she said, she blushed, god, where did that come from!
"I'm Alison Pierce." she said.
"Santana."
"I can tell you're close to Brittany." she smiled.
"She's my best friend, we've grown up together." Santana told her.
"Did she have a good life?" Alison asked suddenly.
"Well..."
Santana didn't really know how to answer that. She didn't know any other life so she couldn't compare happiness or sadness. She supposed it was just like growing up in a bigger family.
"She nearly got adopted once, but it fell through. The couple that wanted her were found out to have been growing drugs." she said.
Alison gasped. Santana screwed up her face.
"That was supposed to be a good thing. It sounded good in my head." she said. "I suppose it's just like growing up with all your friends really, sometimes it's hard but that's just life. It's like that in any normal family, things are difficult you get over them. She used to dream about having a mother. We both did. All she wanted was an apple picker as a mom."
This made Alison laugh through her tears, that Santana had just noticed were falling.
"So she never really had a mother figure?" she asked.
"Well...Maggie has been with us for a while, she's really been the one who's picked us up when we fell down, the one who gave us ice cream when we're heart broken over a boy. She's like a mom, but somehow she'll never be our mother. Of course she'll always be the one we call on though, she brought us up."
Alison nodded sadly.
"If you don't mind me asking Alison, how old are you?"
"32."
"Wow. You must have been young when you had Brittany." Santana gasped.
"I was 16, Brittany's age. I found out I was pregnant and I was sent off to my aunts house in England. They said I could keep the baby but I felt I couldn't cope. I gave birth and they put this little bundle, all red, into my arms and I just knew, I knew I couldn't keep her. I was still a kid myself, I couldn't look after another one, on my own. I wasn't even finished school. I got to spend two days with her in the hospital in London, before she got taken away. My baby, taken away. It broke my heart but I knew it was for the best. I got to name her and make sure she had my last name, I thought that, if she were to be adopted that she could maybe use it as a middle name. Funny thing, you know why I called her Brittany? It was because I loved Britney Spears."
Santana laughed.
"It's not spelt that way though." she told her.
"It's not?"
"No. They must have spelt it wrong on the papers or something."
"Oh well. I still like Britney Spears."
"Wait a minute thought." Santana suddenly said. "How did she come about being in America if she was taken into care in England?"
"Well apparently, they knew my family lived in America so they thought it was best, plus I was American. They sent her over to America, I keep thinking that I might not have found her if they hadn't of sent her here." Alison told her.
"I'm glad they did." Santana said, smiling.
"I've never regret giving her away because I think she has had a better life, Miss Lorre told me she's quite popular at school." Alison said.
"She's a cheerleader. We both are." Santana said.
"She is? Wow...I was a cheerleader, before getting pregnant." Alison smiled.
"She's really good, she's the best dancer in the whole squad." Santana said, rather proudly.
Alison caught one of her tears before it hit her chin.
"She sounds so amazing, my baby."
Santana nodded.
"She is. And I believe you've missed so much giving her up." she told her.
Alison sniffed, nodding.
"But you haven't left it to late, she still needs a mother even if only for a couple more years." Santana said.
"I'm going to do my best with her, I still love her so much." Alison said.
"Don't be surprised if she doesn't come to you first if she has a problem, she thinks of Maggie as her 'mom', she'll probably even come to me first."
"Why are you telling me this?" Alison asked her, grasping a tissue in her hand.
"I really care about her and I don't want you to hurt her. I want you to be prepared...Brittany isn't really like other people, she's, naive, in some ways."
Alison could tell Santana was worried, she could tell it in her eyes. Even though she didn't know her daughter or even her friend really that much, she could tell this girl really loved her. She blotted away a bit of run mascara and looked into Santana's dark eyes.
"I promise, I'll never hurt her. This is all new to me, I want to get to know her more than I've ever wanted anything else. And I hope, with your help, I can do that. If things get to hard for her, I'll back off a bit. I just don't want to go another 16 years not knowing what's happening to her. Not knowing if she's happy or not."
Santana felt tears prick behind her eyes. She took a deep breath and tried to shove them away.
"She is happy." she said quietly.
"I could see that, I'm hoping only to add to that happiness."
"Okay." Santana all but whispered.
Alison handed her a tissue from her bag, Santana smiled.
"It's stupid, I don't know why I'm getting upset." she said.
"It's okay, I can tell you love her, very much."
Santana nodded.
"Thank you Santana."
"For what?"
"Helping me. I think I needed to know a bit about her before I actually met my baby again."
The Latina girl picked up her lemonade from the patio, standing up. She looked down at the blonde woman who Santana could now see bore a lot of resemblance to her friend. She looked nervous, excited and also just plain terrified. She looked up at Brittany, clutching her handbag like it was a security blanket.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes, I think I am."
Santana smiled, encouragingly.
"Then let's go."
She started walking back to Brittany with Alison following close behind. She had been nervous about this, probably even more than Brittany. She had probably been asking herself the same question Brittany had been asking herself too. What if she didn't like her? What if she used her? What if she broke her heart? What if she left her again? She knew that this was why Brittany hadn't told her sooner, even though the girl denied it. Spending that small amount of time with Alison had helped, she seemed like a pretty trustworthy woman. She hadn't really flinched at her warnings, well, indirect warnings. Santana knew that Brittany would like her, she liked her, she just hoped this would work out for them. She found Brittany and stood back, letting Alison go before her. She watched the woman approach her best friend, though it was going well so far, Santana reminded herself to stay cautious, she had to protect her friend from hurt.
xxxxxx
Rachel looked around the garden. She had been smiling and talking to couple after couple for a good hour and a half and she was fed up. She noticed that Quinn had disappeared after the small man came to her claiming her sister had fallen. She thought she had seen May but she wasn't sure as the next couple wanted her attention.
She felt like an information bank, telling people about the kid that they liked the look of. In someway she felt sorry for the kids. She felt like they were like toys on a shelf, couple after couple choosing which one they wanted. She had tried to think about when she was their age, she couldn't remember ever feeling like she was on sale. But then she didn't suppose these kids felt like that, when she looked at them her heart nearly melted. They talked to couples there eyes so hopeful, there smiles so bright. By all means, she hoped they did get adopted, that was the dream. To have a proper mom and dad, maybe even brothers and sisters. She remembered when she was younger and the kids, some of which were her friends, would be told they wanted to be adopted. She'd smile and wave them off when they left to be with their new family but secretly her heart sank. Why didn't anyone want her? She knew she could be annoying, but only a little, she wasn't a bad little girl...
Sometimes she used to think about her real mom, the mom who gave her to two gay men. Leroy and Hiram had been her daddies but she was her mother. Why hadn't she come and got her when they died? Maybe she hadn't known they'd died, Maggie had told her once that there had been a contract after her birth forbidding her mother to find her until she was eighteen. Did she really not know though? Hadn't she read about the fire? About how her daughter was now an orphan? She sighed as she blinked away tears that were forming. Thinking about her dads always made her like this, she missed them. She noticed a shadow move next to her and snapped her head up.
"Oh, are you okay?" The woman asked.
"Yes, sorry, I'm fine, just got a little something in my eye." She said, taking a deep breath.
"Are you sure? You seem upset? Is there anyone I can get for you?"
Rachel smiled looking at the woman properly. She had long dark brown hair which was curled slightly, highlighting her high cheek bones perfectly. She was strikingly beautiful but it wasn't obvious like some of the blonde bimbos that people seemed to class as beautiful these days. Her lips were full, with just a touch of lipgloss dashed over them. She took Rachel's breath away slightly making the woman smile.
"I'm fine." Rachel managed. "Really. So...are you thinking about adoption?"
The woman laughed, motioning to a leaflet Mercedes had just given her.
"Adoption and you." she said.
Rachel smiled.
"Yeah...I think they dumb it down to make the whole adoption thing more appealing." she said.
"Why, is it not? Appealing?" the woman asked.
"Well...yes...I mean of course...adoption is a good option...of course...very appealing..." Rachel stuttered.
The woman laughed.
"I was kidding! I've done my research, I wouldn't have come if I wasn't sure...if it wasn't appealing." she said.
Rachel let out air, she thought she had really done it there.
"So, are you going to show me around?" the woman said, smiling.
"Of course." They walked around the garden, Rachel pointing to children and telling her names and ages and little quirks each one of them had.
When they done a full round of the garden, they stopped at the drinks table and Rachel poured them both a plastic cup of orange juice. They sipped in silence and Rachel noticed the woman give her a funny look.
"Any...er...questions?" she asked, unsure of the look she was receiving.
"How old are you?" The woman asked her.
"16..."
"And you work here?" The woman looked confused.
"Me?" Rachel laughed. "No, I'm a resident, an orphan."
"You are? How come you know about everything?" she asked.
"Oh, well, I've been here most of my life, you pick up on a lot over the years." Rachel explained.
"Most of your life? I can't imagine how a pretty girl like you hasn't been snapped up." the woman said.
"I can kind of be annoying." Rachel shrugged, she felt a sudden pang of sadness as she remembered her earlier thoughts.
"Really?"
"Yeah, I sing alot."
"You sing? Are you any good?"
"Yes." Well there was no need beating around the bush. "I'm in my school's glee club."
"That's really good." the woman smiled.
Rachel blushed though she wasn't to sure why.
"Thank you." They were silent as Rachel took another sip of her orange juice. The woman looked down at her watch and gasped.
"Oh look at the time!" she said. "I've got to go."
Rachel put down her cup and felt slightly disappointed that the stranger had to go.
"Oh right, well, have a read through the brochure, it has all the information that you'll need, even little bio's on the kids. They're all quite charming though." She said to the woman.
The woman smiled. "I will, thank you."
"Thank you, Mrs...?"
"Miss Corcoran...you can call me Shelby."
Rachel nodded and Miss Corcoran...Shelby, put the leaflet and brochure in her bag, she gave her a little wave and was gone through the gate.
Rachel picked up her cup again and took a sip, she liked Shelby and though she didn't know why, she hoped she would see her again.
"Rachel!"
She spun round to see Finn walking towards her.
"Hey Finn." she smiled.
"How's it going?" he asked.
"Okay, I've met loads of people. There are some good couples this year."
Finn nodded.
"Few of the ladies have been hitting on Puck though." he smiled, leaning round her to get a slice of angel cake.
"Really?" Rachel laughed. "Bet he was loving that."
"Hmm...you would think...he's been a bit distant recently." Finn said.
"Why's that?" Rachel asked.
"I dunno..." he looked round the garden. "Have you seen Quinn anywhere?"
"Oh, I think she was with May but I don't know where they went." Rachel told him.
"Is Quinn okay? Bebe told me she was sick today." He said.
"I don't know about that." she lied.
"Oh right."
She took another sip of her orange to hide the awkwardness. She really hatred lying to people but this was Quinn's secret and it wasn't hers to tell.
"So." she said, changing the subject. "Do you think it's looking up for the kids this year?"
Finn looked to the group of kids who had seemed to met and were playing amongst themselves in the corner of the garden.
"I don't know. The kids don't seem very interested." he said.
Rachel laughed.
"Are they ever interested in anything other than cartoons?" she said.
"Good point there Rach." She smiled. He smiled too. They seemed to stand there smiling at each other for what seemed like to them for an eternity.
"Yo! Finchel!"
The trance was broken by a voice. Rachel looked over Finn's shoulder to see Puck standing behind him.
"What's Finchel?"
"It's a mash-up...Finn and Rachel, I'm into mash-ups since glee club." Puck shrugged.
"Nice to see you're taking glee club seriously Noah." Rachel said to him.
"Woah, calm it, I just like mash-ups!" he said, shaking his head. Finn laughed, looking down at his watch.
"Wow, this morning has gone over quickly." They looked around the garden to see that there were only a handful of couples left. Jamie was chatting to one of the couples and Maggie another. They all seemed to be watching Maggie so Rachel spoke.
"Maggie looks very pretty today." she observed, nonchalantly. Finn nodded while Puck breathed.
"Beautiful."
Rachel and Finn exchanged a glance before a second voice rang out.
"Yo my beautiful children!"
Maggie came up behind them, somehow managing to sneak up on them in the second they all looked away. She always seemed to do that...it was rather creepy.
She looked down to her left then back up again.
"Did I just say 'Yo', in an actual sentence? What has become of me? I'm speaking 'teenage'." her jaw dropped, sarcastically. "Oh my god, I'm speaking Puck!"
Rachel and Finn laughed.
"Oh, hah!" Puck said dryly.
Maggie grinned.
"Oh I do love you all." she said.
She put her arms around Puck and Finn. Puck tensed again at her touch, just like this morning. He hoped she wouldn't notice and she didn't seem to as she turned her attention to Rachel.
"Looks like everyone has gone." she said.
It was true, Jamie had showed them all out of the garden and had now turned to the group of kids.
"Should we go help Jamie?" Finn asked. "He's gonna have to get all the kids out of their best clothes."
Maggie looked over to him.
"Nah. He can handle it."
"What are we having for lunch?" Finn asked, his stomach grumbling.
"Well...wouldn't you know!" Maggie smiled.
He moaned, she squeezed his shoulder.
"Go on, go see what the troops want, nothing big though, make a couple of sandwiches, I'm ordering pizza tonight." she said.
"Okay...I'll go now while they're changing, so none of them get under my feet in the kitchen." He said.
"Go on then my little house wife!" Maggie laughed.
Finn narrowed his eyes and mumbled something before shuffling off. There was a shout from the big house.
"I better go and help Jamie." Rachel said. "And find Quinn...she disappeared earlier..."
She wondered off and Maggie dropped her arm from Puck's shoulder.
"Did she say Quinn? Are they friends again?" She asked, confused.
"I don't know."
Maggie shrugged as Puck turned to head back to the house.
"Noah."
"Yes...what?" he asked, turning back.
Maggie lent against the table they had brought out for the morning, she folded her arms across her chest before speaking.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
Puck laughed.
"You know, you keep asking me that." he said.
"You know, you never answer me." she said.
"I'm fine." he told her. "Fine."
"Is it about Quinn? What happened at the party?" she asked.
"No...it's not, I'm over the party." he said.
"So it is something?" she pressed.
He sighed.
"It's nothing Mags, really, nothing I can't handle." he said.
She looked worried.
"But you know you can..."
"Come and see you, yes, I know."
"Okay..."
She stood up and set off towards the house, she stopped when she saw he wasn't following her.
"Aren't you coming?" she asked.
"I'll be in in a bit."
She smiled and continued her walk. Damn she looked good in heels, Puck thought. He mentally screamed, recently he had started thinking about her in these ways. She wore lipstick, he drooled. She let her hair down after a long day, all he did was stare. He'd never thought of an older woman in this way. He wanted her but he could never have her. Why was this happening to him? Why was it that all he wanted to do was go and see her...go into her office just to look at her. When she was around it brought out the best in him, he did what he was told. It also brought out the worst, she looked at him the other day and he went straight to his room and threw some darts, at the wall, cursing himself for thinking this way. He found that his thoughts were straying, straying to her, he'd think about her instead of doing English. He knew what was happening, of course he did. He was falling for her, falling for her hard.
xxxxx
Later that night, after pizza and getting ready for school in the morning, the teenagers bade Jamie and a soon to be going home Maggie goodnight. The little ones were already in bed and though it was earlier than usual the older kids of the home felt like they needed to catch up on some sleep.
Kurt crept under the covers of his bed. Artie was already in bed so he put his alarm on for the morning quietly and lay back. He sighed, looking up at the ceiling, it had been a long day and he had a lot on his mind. His father had dropped a bombshell on him a couple of weeks ago. He shifted onto his side, knowing that sleep wouldn't come easy as the sudden news had hit him hard.
xxxxx
Rachel brushed her hair out. She yawned as she returned her brush to it's draw and jumped over to her bed. Quinn was still in the bathroom so Rachel decided she would leave the lights on and wait. Over the past few weeks she had felt that she and Quinn had really reconnected. The girl needed her and she was more than willing to be there. The door opened and the blonde came in. She got into bed and looked to Rachel.
"I'm going to tell Maggie." she said.
"You are?" Rachel said, stunned, she didn't think she'd do it this soon, despite her constant badgering.
"Yes. I've been thinking about it and I think it's probably best to do it sooner than later."
Rachel nodded.
"That's very sensible Quinn."
"I think it's for the best."
She smiled and Rachel smiled back, shivering slightly.
"Are you cold?" Quinn asked.
"Uh-huh...just a bit."
She folded back her duvet and moved up, making a space. Rachel smiled and hurried the short distance over to Quinn's bed. They turned the light off and Quinn rolled over so Rachel was behind her. Rachel rolled over to as Quinn pulled her hands around her stomach. The brunette could feel a little mound under her hands and smiled into Quinn's hair.
"Good night Rachel." Quinn whispered.
"Good night Quinn." Rachel responded.
They curled up tighter together and were asleep as soon as their tired eyes closed.
xxxx
"So did you like her?"
Brittany smiled, nodding.
"I really did Santana."
"I'm glad."
They were snuggled under their duvets in there facing beds.
"Thanks San."
"What for sweetie?"
"For being there, it really helped me."
Santana smiled.
"You're welcome."
"I've got to go and see Maggie tomorrow to tell her how it went."
"That's good."
Brittany, who had ducked under her sheets to retrieve an odd sock, laughed.
"I suppose it's good..."
Santana didn't say anything.
"Santana?"
She sat up, looking over to her friend.
"San?"
Still no reply. She heard her friends breathing dropping into a gentle rhythm and smiled. Santana had fallen asleep. She flopped back down onto her bed, looking over at her friends figure in the dark.
"Night Santana, I love you."
She closed her eyes as Santana smiled in her sleep.