A/N: So, I think I just might run and hide from all of my readers because I've been away for a long time. Things got tough for me and writing wasn't my top priority, but this story was still on my mind.
I promise not to let things slide this long between updates.
Also, not sure if I mentioned this before, but I see this story as a long one with the kids in their adult hood, it's just going to take some time to get there.
This chapter is short, but it is better than nothing
Ch. 26: Adjustments Abound
Rachel looks at her wife as she sets a few legal papers down on the table.
"How'd the meeting go?"
Quinn smiles.
"I talked to Beth's social worker and then our lawyer. It isn't much of a case. All we would have to do is sign some papers and get them filed and Beth is legally in our care and legally our daughter."
"At least the process is going to be hassle free," Rachel says before closing her laptop closed. "Hassle free is always best."
"Apparently, I never fully gave up my rights while placing Beth up for adoption so that's why it's hassle free."
"Now we have to ask Beth about it. That may be our only hiccup."
Quinn straddles her wife in the chair.
"I hope she says yes because then I'll need you to sign some forms for a second parent adoption."
Rachel's eyes light up at the prospect of adopting Beth.
"I really want her to say yes."
Quinn leans her forehead against her wife's.
"I really want her to say yes, too," Quinn retorts back. "Speaking off, where are our girls?"
Rachel runs her hands up and down her wife's back.
"Beth is with Amanda and Lucy is pretending to be at Sara's house when in reality she is with the boyfriend she things we don't know about."
Quinn pulls her head away from her wife's.
"We really need to speak with that girl."
"After we handle things with Beth first."
Quinn agrees with her wife by a nod of her head before leaning down and kissing her wife slowly and softly. Quinn's hands trailed up and down the side of her wife's waist.
"I think," Kiss. "that we should," Kiss. "take this upstairs." Kiss.
Quinn pulls away from her wife with a grin. She subtly rolls her hips into her wife causing Rachel to groan lowly. Rachel throws her wife a playful glare. Quinn stands up and offers her hand to her wife.
"We have the entire house to ourselves while our children are away. We should really make the best of it."
Rachel grabs her wife's hand and like teenagers, they run to their bedroom and lock the door.
*Friend to a Stranger*
"Have you thought about the offer?" Brittany asks the moment she sits down across from Mike at the coffee shop.
Mike nods his head with again.
"I talked it over with Tina and we came to the decision that it may be the best decision for our family," Brittany smiles widely. "Count me in on your plans."
"I'm so happy. I wasn't sure if I could do this on my own."
"Now you don't have too," Mika reassures. "It will take a few weeks for us to move back."
Brittany waves her hand in the air.
"That's totally fine. Santana and I have to pull some finance things together in order to start. San said it would probably take a few weeks anyway. I'm just excited that you are on board."
"Me too," Mike takes a sip of his coffee. "How have the plans for the studio been going? Do you have everything sorted out?"
"I have some plans but they aren't set in stone. I haven't really talked to anybody about this except for you and Santana, but I really want this to start happening."
Mike smiles at his high school friend.
"It will happen Britt, but sometimes things have to take time."
*Friend to a Stranger*
"Are we doing anything special today?" Amanda asks as she grabs onto her girlfriend's hand.
"Not really. I figured we could just walk around town a bit, maybe get some food at some point."
"Sounds great, is that all we are going to be doing?"
Beth looks over at Amanda with a smile. She knew that things have been slightly different between the two of them. Beth could feel the shift in their relationship and the shift seemed to happen when Beth and Sara somewhat buried the hatchet between them. The feelings were still raw, but they weren't fighting anymore.
Beth and Amanda had found their way onto McKinley High's football field and slowly took a seat on one of the many benches in the stand. The area was practically dead and would be considering it was a Sunday. Come Monday morning things would be a little bit different.
"I love moments like this," Amanda says with a small grin before placing a kiss on the back of the hand that she was holding. "Everything around you is so still that it really makes you think about life."
Beth studied her girl's features and couldn't help but smile brightly. Her whole life she had never felt truly close to anyone in her life. She had been through many traumatic experiences and because of that Beth had closed herself off to having a healthy relationship or rather any type of healthy relationship whether it be friends or otherwise. She knew now that letting someone into her heart wasn't a bad thing.
Amanda looks at Beth with a sly grin.
"What's wrong? Do I have something on my face?"
Beth continues to smile, but shakes her head.
"I'm in love with you."
Amanda freezes the moment she hears the words that she has been wanting to say herself for the past several weeks. Her heart skipped a beat and she couldn't stop smiling. Tears start to form in Amanda's eyes, but before she can say anything, Beth continues talking.
"We've only been officially together for like a month, but we've known each other longer than that. If I am honest with myself than I would have to say that I have loved you for a very long time and this may be fast in our relationship, but there is nothing that is stopping me from finally telling you how I feel."
"I'm in love with you, too."
Beth surges forward and locks her lips with Amanda's. For the first time in her life, Beth understood the phrase "being on cloud nine."
*Friend to a Stranger*
Santana sits in her office at the high school going over her plans for the restaurant. Ever since she left it had seemed like all her restaurant did was suck. Going over the paperwork she is beginning to realize that maybe she shouldn't have left the business in the first place. Profit is at an all-time low. It's even worse than her first year of being open. She didn't like that one bit.
It may be the worst time ever, but a restructuring may be in order; new management and maybe new staff. Santana knew it was probably time to test everybody.
With her wife starting her own business, Santana knew she was going to be stretched thin, but it was all worth it if it meant that her wife wasn't going to be going anywhere and that her and her daughter's relationship wasn't going to change.
"Well if it isn't Sandbags herself?"
Santana silently groans when she hears the familiar voice of her old cheerleading coach, Sue Sylvester. She is the one person that Santana wished she would never see again.
Santana's eyes wondered from the papers on her desk to the floor and trailed up the pink track suit that Sue was currently sporting. Santana snorts. Something's never change.
Santana leans back in her chair and sighs.
"How many times do I have to tell you that my boobs aren't fake? That was just a rumor in high school."
"That's not the point Airbags," Santana rolls her eyes as Sue walks into the room. "I'm here for a reason and that reason is to take back my Cheerios."
"What does that have to do with me?"
Sue sits across from Santana with a sigh.
"I don't like retirement. I need my Cheerios back. I also want a chance to torment the Glee club again."
"Quinn and Rachel are running the Glee club," Santana states.
"I already knew that Fabray and Streisand were doing that. You don't think I know about my competition. Just like I know that Tweedle-Dumb-"
"Hey!" Santana interrupts.
"Is officially back in your life and is apparently going to be sticking around for a while. The point is you don't belong here, Santana."
Santana locks eyes with her former coach. When Sue Sylvester uses your real name, you need to pay attention.
"Cooking is your passion and from what I gather your restaurant isn't doing so well. Go and fix it and give me back my Cheerios."
"You know everything about us, don't you? And not just the Cheerios either. You know about everyone from Glee Club."
Sue gives Santana a smile.
"I'll always know everything about the enemy."
*Friend to a Stranger*
After spending most of her day with Amanda, Beth walks into her home with a huge smile on her face. To Beth, it was like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders when she told Amanda that she loved her. For the first time in a while she realized that she was truly and utterly happy.
She walked into the living room and spotted Quinn, Rachel and Lucy all sitting around and apparently waiting for her.
"Sweetie, can you come in and sit down?" Quinn asks gently.
Beth locks eyes with Lucy who nods her head with a smile. Beth takes a seat next to Lucy and waits.
"Did I do anything wrong?" Beth asks unsure of what was going on.
Rachel and Quinn smile at Beth to help relieve some of the tension that seemed to gather in the room.
"Nothing of the sort. Your mother and I were just talking about a few things and we need your opinion on the situation in order to move forward," Rachel says taking over.
"Beth, Rachel and I were wondering if we could adopt you. If you say no, we understand, but you will always be a part of this family and we really want you to know that, but ultimately it is your decision."
Beth stays silent in her seat. Quinn had just told her that she wanted to adopt her. Her mother wanted her in her life. It was something that Beth had wanted her entire life. She had wanted someone to want her enough to be a part of a family. She wanted to be a part of something that mattered and family mattered, big time.
Rachel and Quinn waited with lumps in their throats. They both really wanted this. They really wanted Beth to say yes because then it would be official and that it may allow Beth to feel more at home when she knew things would be permanent.
"Every day on my birthday I would always wish for the same thing and every year I was always disappointed because it never came true. Most kids on their birthdays would wish for a new bike or new clothes or something to that effect," Beth looks at Rachel and Quinn. "But I would always wish for a mother and a father and this may not be what I wished for I realize that it doesn't matter because you two are better than just a mother and a father. You're Quinn and Rachel and you both are always just there and I think that's what I always wanted. I wanted someone to just be there and you two have been even if I haven't given you a reason to be."
Quinn and Rachel, unsure of what to do, gently make their way closer to Beth. Beth looks in their eyes.
"I may not be my birthday, but my wish is coming true so I accept."
Quinn and Rachel smile and laugh as tears fall down their cheeks while they hug Beth tightly. Lucy watches on with a smile and Beth locks eyes with her sister. Things were going to change, but both were up to the challenge.