Thank you all for the amazing feedback. I was worried that once I killed Shelby, many of you would leave, but I am glad that you didn't. I did say this was a Shelby and Rachel story, and I plan to keep it that way.
I am going to skip forward a few days, to when Shelby is home and settled.
Enjoy. :)
A few weeks have passed since we brought mom home. Doctor Stevens gave her the all clear and said she should be just fine. I called my agent in New York and informed her with everything that had happened. She said that we should release a statement, especially with the Tony Awards coming up in a about a month and a half. I declined and said that my personal life was just that, personal. I told her that I would be staying here for a few more weeks. Noah has been here almost every day. He comes early in the morning and stays until right before dinner. He put off his move to stay here with me a little longer. I guess you could say that we are working on a relationship. I know Shelby is grateful that he is here because the first couple of days, I was driving her crazy by worrying so much. Kurt headed back the day after Shelby came home, and told me he would take care of things in New York for me.
I am sitting at the computer, answering emails, when I hear the doorbell ring. I jump up and run to answer it. I am shocked when I see Quinn standing on the other side of the door.
"Hey, Rach."
"Quinn, come in." I say, giving her a small hug.
"Thanks." She returns the hug and we make our way to the living room, where I see mom sitting on the couch watching Law and Order: SVU reruns. She looks up, mutes the television, and smiles at us. I plop down next to her, but Quinn is hesitant at first.
"Make yourself at home, Quinn." Mom says with a soft smile as Quinn opts to sit in the chair across from us.
"I am sorry for barging in here like this, but I have a question and I figured it would be better to ask in person, rather than over the phone." She states.
"What is it, Q?" I ask her, a little worried.
"Actually, it is for Shelby, and it is kind of private"
"Oh alright, well I am going to head back to answer some more emails. Come see me when you finish talking. I wanted to ask you something." I say, getting up.
"Sure thing."
I make my way back to my room. About 20 minutes have passed since I've returned to my room, and I haven't heard any yelling, so it must be going okay. I grab my planner and lay across my bed, when there is a knock on my door.
"Come in, Quinn." I sit up to make room for her on the bed. I can see that she has been crying. Oh god, if she is crying, is mom okay? Is she crying? I knew I shouldn't have left them alone.
"You wanted to ask me something?" She asks.
"Yes, but I want to know what is going on. Why are you crying? Is mom okay?"
"Yes, Rachel, everything is fine. I was just talking to Shelby about being able to see Beth more and she agreed that it was a good idea."
"Really?! That's great! That's actually what I wanted to talk to you about." I see her stiffen and she immediately begins playing with her hands. I grab them and smile. "It's not bad, stop distressing. So you are still in Philly, correct?" She nods, so I continue. "I was thinking about asking mom to move her and Beth to New York and I was going to see if maybe you would be interested in keeping Beth maybe once a month for a weekend. I know she needs to get to know you before we just let her stay with you over a weekend, but she has been asking me about her birth mother. I just figured that we could let you get to know each other before we tell her that you are her mother. I haven't mentioned moving to Shelby yet, but we have talked about letting you and Beth get to know each other."
I look up to see Quinn in tears again. "Of Course, Rach. I would love to keep her. I would give anything to be a part of her life, in any way that Shelby would allow me." She hugs me, tightly. "Thank you so much."
"You are welcome, Quinn. I just told Shelby that I would have given anything to have her in my life, and Beth shouldn't have to spend her whole life wondering who her mom is and if she wants to be in her life. She agreed. She already agreed to allowing the weekend visits, after a few times of you and Beth hanging out and getting to know each other."
"Great. So when do you plan on asking her about moving to New York?"
"Actually, tonight. Kurt has been looking for places in New York these past two weeks and he has found two amazing places, not too far from us. I plan on showing her his pictures and videos tonight."
"Well then, I will get out of here so you can talk to her. Let me know how it goes and if I can help."
"Thanks." I say as we make our way to the door. I hug her one last time, this one being more sincere than the last one.
I find mom in the same position as she was when Quinn first arrived. When I sit down, she places her hand on my leg.
"Mom, can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Sure, Baby Girl, what's up?"
"I have a proposition for you."
"Oh no, I don't know if I like the sound of this, Rach." She smiles.
"Just hear me out, okay?" She nods. "Okay, so you know how Kurt went back to New York to handle some things for me? Well, I actually sent him apartment hunting. He has found two amazing apartments. So I was wondering if you would consider moving to New York so that we could be closer. I mean I have gotten so close to Bethie and you, and I don't want to be 9 hours away from either one of you. I want to be in the same city as you, and you know I can't really just up and leave the City right now. So do you think that maybe you could come up there? I mean I understand if you don't want to, I know that you and Beth are settled here, and you just got over being sick, and this may not be the best time to ask you, but I thought that maybe you would. You know what, maybe I shouldn't have mentioned thi-" Mom places her hand over my mouth.
"Rachel, breathe sweetie." She smiles. I give a small smile back. "I would love to be closer to you. I have been doing my own research as well. I just didn't want to say anything until I found the perfect place. So why don't you take me to your room and show me the places you have found."
Before she can move, I fling myself into her arms. I can't believe she wants to move near me. She drags me into my room. I show her the first place and she gasps.
"Oh, Rachel, I love this one. I don't even need to see the second one."
"Really, are you sure?"
"Yes. This one is perfect. When is it available?"
"In two weeks. I can have Kurt place the deposit on it tomorrow morning."
"What about my stuff? I don't know if I should be moving all of this stuff."
"It is already taken care of, all I have to do is make a phone call and I can have it all boxed and moved on the move in date and then when you get there everything will be unpacked and ready for you. I want to make this as stress free as I can."
She stands me up and sits in my computer chair, pulling me down into her lap. I lay my head on her shoulder, taking in every moment I can with her. Before long, I feel her shoulder begin to shake. I look up to see her softly crying.
"Mom, what's wrong? Are you okay? Am I hurting you?" I say going to get up, but she holds me down.
"No, Baby Girl, I am fine. I am just so happy. Less than a month ago I didn't think I would ever be able to hold my baby and now here I am not only holding her, but I am about to move less than 5 blocks from her. I am just so happy. I have two amazing girls; I am the luckiest woman in the world." I smile and cuddle even closer to her.
We make our way to the couch after a few minutes and put in a movie before we have to go get Beth from school.
"So are we going to tell Beth tonight?" I ask.
"I think we should. What are you going to tell Noah?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, are you two working on a relationship?" I nod. "So how is it going to work if he is in California and you are in NYC?"
"Oh, you haven't heard? He is moving to New York at the end of the month. He is a really talented writer, so he is going to try to get into the playwright business."
"That's great, honey!"
"I know. So how do you feel about Noah, and now Quinn, being around Bethie more?"
"Well you know, after our talk, I did a lot of thinking. I know what I felt every minute of every day that I wasn't around you and it was horrible. I wouldn't wish that feeling on my worst enemy. Plus, I have heard you and Beth talking at night and I know she wants to know her parents, and it would be wrong to keep them from her, so I am okay with it, as long as they continue to respect me."
"Good. I don't know that much about Quinn, but I do know that Noah wants to be in her life for good. He talks about her all the time."
"I am glad." We fall into a comfortable silence to finish the movie. I feel my eyelids getting heavy so I lay down in mom's lap and drift softly off to sleep.
"I love you so much, Baby Girl. Thank you for being so amazing."
"Love you too, mommy." I say sleepily.
If you guys have any ideas, please let me know. Do you think I am rushing to this relationship? Should Quinn be a good person for the family or should she be up to no good? Let me know.