Hey all! I just want to say thank you for all the wonderful reviews. It really inspires me to keep writing. I hope you all keep reviewing and reading, because this story is only beginning. Prepare yourselves for one hell of a ride! Anyway, please continue to read and review, I really appreciate the feedback. The longer the better too! I will be putting flash backs in some chapters, just to get an idea of what Puck and Quinn's life was like. Well, happy reading guys!
Quinn brushed her straight blonde hair into a modest pony tail. Another 12 hour shift at work, but it paid the bills. She was dressed in the usual dark blue scrubs. After she had divorced Puck she went to nursing school. It was the hardest two years of her life, but Quinn was determined to make it through. She cried every day; partly because of school and partly because of him. It was best day of her life when she received her nursing license.
At times the job was exhausting. Quinn decided to work in the nursery; tending to all the new born babies. It was sick what Quinn did to herself. Being put in a situation where she got to see mother's holding their babies with such love – it made Quinn sick. She was in that same position 13 years ago, but instead of taking that baby home – Quinn gave her away. It was the worst day of Quinn's life, but she had somehow managed to move on and heal.
The hospital was pretty quiet, something Quinn was quite thankful for. She was greeted by friendly smiles from her fellow nurses. Quinn never shared much about herself. It wasn't that she was ashamed, but the questions they would ask. She took a deep breath and stepped into the nursery.
Just another day.
Shelby can remember what it felt like to see Beth for the first time. She was wrapped tightly in a pink blanket; a perfect, sleeping angel. The birth parents were looking upon their little girl with love and Shelby knew these were the two. It was fate that brought her Beth. Earlier, Shelby had attempted to contact her daughter, Rachel. At first, Shelby was happy to find her, but soon she realized how much she had missed out on. She wanted so badly to experience motherhood from the beginning, but life had a funny way about it. Her doctors told her that she was unable to conceive. Shelby couldn't remember much after that. All she knew was that she cried for days – months even.
Beth was her miracle.
That sweet baby was everything she ever wanted. When she spoke to Noah and Quinn Shelby saw the protective face of a father and the unsure face of a young mother. Shelby wasn't naïve to think they didn't want Beth; it was that they couldn't keep her. They were young and unable to provide for her. Shelby could give Beth the life they couldn't.
When Noah had said her name was Beth; Shelby understood how much it meant to him. It felt right to keep the name. When her baby was placed in her arms, Shelby knew it was meant to be. Finally, she had a little girl to raise.
Beth was a joy to be around. She smiled, giggled, and warmed every person's heart. Shelby was blessed with a daughter so perfect it was as if heaven had personally delivered. Maybe it had? Shelby owed Quinn and Puck so much, but she knew the pain they were feeling. Sometimes one's sadness is another person's joy. Deep down, Shelby hoped, they feel they made the right decision.
It was hard to believe that Beth was going to be 13 years old. Where had the time gone? Shelby sat in her living room, a dozen or so photo albums spread out on the coffee table. She loved taking pictures of her baby growing up. Shelby was sure she had one for every day Beth was alive.
Beth had so many questions now. Shelby couldn't blame her. It was only natural for Beth to question where she had come from. At times, Shelby would pick up the phone and want to call the adoption agency. All she wanted was for her baby girl to be happy, and maybe meeting her birth parents would bring her joy?
Shelby wished she knew what became of them. After they handed Beth over they stayed away. It wasn't because they didn't love her, but because it hurt too much, and that was a feeling Shelby related too very well.
Noah Puckerman was tired of his life. He was living paycheck to paycheck, always finding a new job every month. After Quinn had filed for divorce, Puck had nothing left. His heart was broken and he was alone. It didn't matter what women he slept with or how drunk he got – he missed his wife.
His friends would tell him to stop wearing the ring, but Puck couldn't bring himself to take it off. He loved Quinn and always would. When they had gotten married – he was young and angry. It just wasn't the right time. He had been making an effort to change. Going to college at night and getting a degree in teaching music.
Music was all Puck had left. He would play at local clubs and restaurants; just for the hell of it. It made him happy. Music was about the only thing that made him happy these days. He was no longer that idiot kid with a Mohawk. Puck would sometimes tell himself that if he could go back, he would show Quinn how much he cared.
Love was never the problem with them. If anything, they had too much love and not enough reality. After they had given up Beth life had changed for them. Puck confessed he loved her and they dated through high school, but that ended before graduation. Then a year later they were reunited and married.
Marriage was difficult. They were broke and lived in a shitty apartment. Besides that, which sucked, they had a lot of issues. Puck wanted a baby. At the time, he wanted one for all the wrong reasons. He wanted to forget that his daughter was out there somewhere, being raised by someone else. He wanted a child of his own. Quinn was opposed to the idea. They were 20 and broke. It was practically the same situation they were in before.
That was when everything turned around. Puck would fight every day with Quinn, and when they weren't fighting – he was ignoring her. He hated her. Now Puck realizes how wrong he was, but things were different then. Nothing would replace Beth and Puck felt sick even thinking something could.
He's walking down the streets of New York City; his guitar slung behind is back. Sometimes he felt like such a cliché. Another poor musician trying to make it the big city, what a joke. Puck looked up at one of the billboards and laughed. There was a giant picture of Rachel Berry; smiling. She had made her Broadway dream come true.
"I'll have to go see that one day…" Puck said to himself.
Beth was running fast. Sometimes when things got difficult she would put on her iPod and run. All the pain and frustration was fading with each quick stride of her feet. Beth sang along quietly to each song they would play. There had to be a way for her to move on. Instead of focusing on what was missing, Beth decided to appreciate all that was good in her life.
Shelby was an incredible mom and Beth loved her. She had a great life.
It wouldn't be easy, and Beth knew that. She needed to forget that her birth parents were out there.
It hurt too much to think they were out there happy and she was miserable.