Chapter 5: Ice Cream

The past few weeks have been a long rollercoaster. Kurt and Carole came back from their little getaway. Finn and Rachel weren't due to fly back home until the end of August. It's July 7th and Rachel tries her best to hold herself together. She couldn't speak to Finn. Finn couldn't speak to her. Emily wouldn't speak to them. The Hudson family were a mess.

LeRoy and Hiram knocks on the door of the room their granddaughter were staying in. "Hi, angel." They said as they stood by the door.

Emily looks up from her coloring book and smiles.

LeRoy walks towards his daughter. "Honey? Can Granddaddy and I talk to you?"

Emily shrugs her shoulders. The silent treatment. It was never a good sign when they received silent treatment from the young Berry ladies. Emily walks to her bed and sits on the edge of it and grabs her teddy bear. "We love you, your mommy, and your daddy. We hate seeing them being torned apart now that you aren't speaking to them." LeRoy began.

"But I'm mad. Mommy never lies to me. She's my best friend." Emily cries.

"We know she is. She will always be your best friend. Mommy's been crying even more. Granddaddy and I hate seeing our little girl cry. We hate seeing our stars cry. Can you forgive her?" LeRoy asked.

Emily nods. "I'm sorry I acted so badly." Emily cried. She hugs her grandfathers.

"Sweetie, you are never a bad kid." Hiram said in between hugs. "I will forgive Mommy because I love her."

The grandfathers smile proudly at Emily. They have promised to talk to Emily for Rachel.

"We'll go out for ice cream tonight, okay?" Hiram says.

"Yeah! Rocky Road!" Emily cheers happily. LeRoy and Hiram laugh and the three of them walk out of the room.

Kurt was comforting Rachel in the kitchen. She's been threw two boxes of tissues. Kurt was slowly grieving with his father's death. Carole comforts Rachel as well while Finn went out every damn day. "I don't know what to do. I love Finn! I love Emily-they're both so angry with me." Rachel sobs.

"Rachel? They both have different reactions. I'm sure they don't hate you." Kurt smoothes Rachel's hair. Rachel looks at Carole.

"I'm sorry for what I did to your son. You must be extremely worried about him and I-I-" She was uncontrollable.

"I am worried about my son. I forgive you Rachel. You just wanted what you thought was best for Emily. Finn is hurt. He's grieving his own way, I'm not sure why. You said it was his idea for all of this.."

"But he hasn't spoken to me." Rachel cried.

"He will, sweetheart. He will." Carole says hugging Rachel.

Just then Emily comes down with her grandparents. "Hi, everyone." She greets Kurt and Carole. She runs over to her mommy to give her a huge hug. "Mommy! I'm sorry I was mad at you. I didn't mean to make you cry even more." Emily says in between hugs.

"Oh, sweetheart." Rachel said. She carries Emily onto her lap. "You don't know how happy it feels to hear your voice again-knowing you were speaking to me."

Emily tries to smile. "You're not sad anymore?"

"I'll try not to be." Rachel tried her best to smile. "I love you, mommy." She hugs her once again. "And Granddaddy and Grandpa said we could go out for some ice cream!"

The adults laugh at the little girl. "Actually, Grandpa and I were thinking about you two just go. We'll be fine. We don't need any ice cream." Hiram suggested.

"Can we, Mommy? Can we?!" Emily asked, getting off her mother's lap, and cheering up and down..

Rachel laughs. "Sure, baby. Let me get ready. I look like a mess." She laughs.

Rachel excuses herself but Kurt stops her from walking. "You'll be okay, Rachel Berry." Kurt said walking towards to Rachel, giving her another hug.

"Thank you." She thanks him.

She gets ready to spend quality time with Emily.

At the Ice Cream shop Rachel couldn't help but smile. She and Emily have been smiling non- stop. Finally, the tears has ended. Emily orders a Rocky Road Sundae while Rachel orders a Banana Split.

Emily has been the happiest she's ever been after finding out Finn Hudson isn't really her father. She hasn't seen much of him after that. She's confused but she didn't want to think about him. All she wanted to think about was her Rocky Road Sundae.

Rachel was the same way. Her Banana split somehow had made her mood so much better than it was a few minutes ago. Rachel tried to put everything behind and just enjoy quality time with her little Star.

"Is this lunch?" Emily asked. Rachel shook her head. "No. This is a special treat." Emily sighs. "Oh, fine."

Rachel laughs at the cuteness of her daughter. She was hoping the afternoon would forget all about her troubles. She knew she has been sobbing a lot and it wasn't healthy for her. She knew Emily would always keep a smile on her face.

That was until Rachel saw him again walking into the Ice Cream shop. He was walking with a young blonde girl about Emily's age.

Beth. She thought. It has to be Beth. She watched as they order their treat. I can't run now, not right now, not when I'm enjoying this afternoon with my daughter. There's no running back now.

When they were done, Puck looks around for a seat. There was a seat near the Berry girls. Beth follows her father and Puck walks by Rachel and his little girl. "Hi, Rachel." Puck says. He tries to make this a nice conversation as possible for his little girls. He smiles at the young girl sitting across from Emily. "Hello, Noah." Rachel smiles. She smiles at Beth as well. "Daddy? Can we sit?" Beth asked politely.

Puck nods. "Of course, baby." He says. Beth looks around. "Where?"

Emily smiles at the older girl. "Hi, I'm Emily Kate Berry-Hudson, what's your name?" Emily asked.

"Beth Corcoran. " Beth says.

"Nice to meet you. You can sit with us. "Emily said. Beth sits next to Emily while. "This is my mommy, Rachel Berry. She's has the greatest voice." Emily smiles.

"Hello. Beth, it's so nice to meet you." Rachel says. She couldn't help but think that the young girl sitting next to her daughter looks exactly like Quinn Fabray. She noticed that Beth spoke in a shy- soft voice.

Puck smiles at his two young daughters. "Can I sit with you?" He asked Rachel. Rachel nods and Puck sits with Rachel.

"Mr. Do you know my mommy?" Emily asked curiously.

"Yes, I do. I knew your mommy since high school." Puck smiles. "And does Beth know my mommy?" Emily asked.

"She might of..." Puck says.

Beth shook her head. "No. I don't know her, daddy." She shyly responded.

At least Noah's smart enough not to go up to Emily and say, 'Oh, hey..I'm your daddy.' Hopefully he wouldn't say anything like that today. Rachel thought. She continues to smile for the sake of her daughter.

"I like Rocky Road Sundaes. They are my favorite!" Emily smiles.

"They're my favorite too." Beth says.

Emily looks directly at her mother. "Mommy! I think I just made a new friend!"

"I'm very proud of you, baby." Rachel says. The two little girls begin to talk, getting to know each other, and just shared smiles and laughter while Rachel and Puck just sat there silently.

If my daughters can get along, then why can't Berry and I do the same? It's really not that hard to start over. Puck thought. He looks at Rachel who looks out the window. The only time she's avoided eye-contact with Puck. Okay, maybe it is hard to start over again. No biggy, you got this Puckerman.