(Finn's point of view)
Two days went by before Rachel showed up at the auditorium.
"I didn't think you'd say goodbye before you left."
"I didn't either, until I realized something." I held my breath.
"You didn't say how you got the letter from Quinn, so either you lied to her too and she doesn't know or you're making it up?"
I laughed.
"What? No. No, I went for a jog when I found it next to Quinn's mailbox. And you're right. She doesn't know I took it." How stupid was I?
"Well, maybe it should stay that way." She offered. I was confused.
"I don't get it."
"Maybe, you should put the letter back in her mailbox or on her doorstep. If someone is impersonating Shelby, then you don't want to know why. I mean, what if whatever is inside the letter confirms your deepest darkest fear, that Shelby and Quinn have actually spoken and they both have a relationship with your daughter?" Rachel finished. I never thought about that.
"When I first met Shelby, I was sad because the questions that I've always wished to ask her I got them answered and I wasn't pleased with any of her answers. I wasn't pleased with her or us and it hurt. I want you to choose what happens next." She said grabbing my hand in hers.
"But understand that your answers to your questions might change what you think forever. You won't be able to preserve the pure memories that you have now." With that she hugged me before continuing.
"Finn, I still care about you. I always have. I'm just hoping that you'll care for yourself just this once." And with that, we fell silent. Rachel was right. I probably didn't want to find out what the letter said, but I did want to see who it was from.
Later that day, I drove past Quinn's where I dropped the letter off on the doorstep. I have never felt more freer.
…..
(Daniel's point of view)
I was adjusting my cufflinks when Quinn came in with my tie.
"Good luck tonight. My father is no easy man." She said while she adjusted my tie. I pulled her closer.
"You weren't that easy yourself." I reminded her playfully.
She shook her head before breaking my hold on her. Reaching for my jacket, she ran through the list of appropriate things to talk about tonight.
"So remember, firm handshake. Manners, manners are a must. At least offer to leave the tip for drinks and then ask him for some advice on how to be with me or something, stroke his ego some." Quinn joked. I smiled. I couldn't remember when I became the luckiest man alive.
I wasn't paying attention as I walked through the door, so I stepped on a letter. Quinn still being in the doorway, she watched me reach down to pick it up.
"Another letter from your friend, Shelby." I said curiously facing her.
Quinn took it, biting her lip as if she was nervous? Was I missing something?
I guess there was one way to find out. I'd ask her when I got back. Letting it go for now, I made my way to the car where her father was waiting patiently.
"I love you Q." I whispered blowing her a kiss.
"I love you too." She echoed closing the door.
…
(Quinn's point of view)
As soon as I was sure Daniel and Dad were down the road, I locked myself in my room with the first letter. When the second letter came, I decided not to involve Santana until I found the first one. Now, hopefully, she could help me put the pieces together to this puzzle.
My heartbeat was so loud I could barely concentrate. Anxious, I put on the radio. That didn't help.
I heard you got a new girlfriend
And it's hurting me
I heard you got a new girlfriend
And it's hurting
Yeah it's hurting me
Yeah it's hurting me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me
Annoyed, I settled for no music.
I never thought about Puck moving on. The thought wasn't something I was thrilled with. Maybe because I was once the girl who fell for that charm that charmed half the high school into sleeping with him. No one else should feel used and unclean the way that I felt once I had his child. Suddenly, I remembered the letter.
I ripped open the envelope, and there it was: A picture of Beth on her first day of kindergarten.
My hands found my mouth attempting to keep calm.
There she was. It wasn't hard to tell that she had my nose and my lips.
The girl had dirty blond ringlets that fell gently down her back. She couldn't have been more than 4 feet, and by the look on her face she was excited for the day ahead of her.
Mesmerized by those eyes, my eyes, I continued taking her in, looking for any sign of Puck.
I couldn't believe it's been five years since I've seen her. And to think, I owe Santana something nice because I thought she would slip and send me pictures or at least talk about her, but no. Never. I smiled to myself continuing with the letter.
Quinn,
A lot has happened in five years. Despite our differences, I've decided to give you something that you never offered me: A choice to get to know your daughter.
I don't want you to miss out on her life, so I'm going to update you in a letter every so often.
I think it's time you meet Beth.
She's the cutest thing growing on two feet, well besides her old man. She eats like her dad, talks like her mom, and dreams like her mom too.
She's ambitious the little one, always finding new ways to learn about her real mom. Always looking for a way to get closer to you without saying it out loud.
She's smart, and sometimes her innocence can fool the most critical person and when she gets caught, oh she can throw a good tantrum.
Something tells me you already knew that.
Anyway, I thought you should have this picture. It's her on her first day of school. If it warms your heart the way it touches mine, I'm sure you'll hate me now but thank me later.
And Quinn?
I'm sorry if this causes you more pain than good.
Puck
I froze. This was from Puck? I grabbed the two letters, my keys and my phone before speeding down the streets of Lima as fast as I could without getting any tickets.
…
(Santana's point of view)
Brittany and I were on FaceTime doing our nails when I was interrupted.
DING DONG!
I sighed, reluctantly answering the door.
"Britt, I'll talk to you later ok?" I screamed from the front door when my visitor came in.
"Ok San. Hugs and kisses." She said before ending the call.
"Hey, what's up?" I offered shutting the door.
"San, you want to tell me what the hell is going on?" She hissed, holding up both letters.
I took a letter, and read it out loud while walking over to the fridge for some alcohol. Quinn paced.
Quinn,
I hope you've found a way to forgive me for the last letter.
The picture was probably not something you were expecting, and while I wish I was more sensitive, that's the last one I will send until you say it's okay to send more.
Today, Beth learned how to spell her full name without help: Elizabeth Quinn Puckerman.
You should have seen her go! She took me through the A, B, C's, her numbers up to 40 and we even identified some animals on wonder pets, this super hero cartoon where animals save the day. She did so great that I took her out to her favorite place to eat: Panera Bread.
Last year, Shelby and I were on a weight loss challenge, so we ate Panera on lazy days.
Beth ordered her favorite thing: the Green Goddess or Coddess salad without avocado.
It's funny how she hates avocados like you, and how when she's trying to prove a point, she gathers more facts from different angles, like you would.
I'm not sure we're raising the next president, but we sure do have something special. Something better than special: something that has changed our lives. I hope there's time for her to still change yours.
Puck
I handed back the letter.
"San, did you know about this?"
"Of course I did." I said drinking before finishing.
"You're in New York Quinn. No one knows that but me, so I decided to let him think that he would reach you by sending it to your childhood home. And before you judge me, you're welcome. Maybe, next time I'll call him three way so we can all play catch up instead of blame Santana for being loyal to both parties." I rambled before taking another sip. Quinn sighed.
"I'm sorry. You're right. You haven't told anyone where I am, and I haven't heard anything from anyone until now. It was inevitable."
I pat her on the back.
"Quinn, I won't tell you what to do, but if you want my advice, don't run from this. Either reply to his letter or let him assume that you've never read them. Simple. No one has to know that you're passing through and everyone can go on with their lives." I said a little harsher than I intended. She noticed that too because she took my drink and finished what was left.
"What if I want to see her?" I sighed. Great.
"That's all fine and dandy Quinn, but you have to be ready to stick around before I let you hurt the very one you vowed to stay away from to protect." She finally plopped down on the couch, thinking.
I joined her, grabbing the remote, hoping to catch up on the rest of Stranger Things when Quinn spoke.
"What if I spent the day with her? I could crash here and no one would know."
The best thing about being me is that I didn't care whose dreams I was crushing. I would always tell the true and try to be realistic. I went through the channels settling for Insecure reruns.
"That probably wouldn't work. Rachel knows the truth about Beth. All of it." I said quietly not looking at her.
"What? Who told her?"
"I told her because Finn had the first letter and he would have found out that he wasn't the father if he opened it to read it." I admitted.
"You knew what he wrote in the letter." Quinn confirmed without looking at me.
"Yes. He told me. I went with him to send it through the mail. We didn't know that this would happen."
Insecure came back on and filled the empty silence.
Drake's Feel no ways was playing.
Feel a way,
Feel a way young ***** feel a way
I stopped listening to things you say
Cause you don't mean it anyway
Feel a way,
Feel a wayyoung ***** feel a way
Maybe we should've did things my way
Instead of the other way
I tried with you
There's more to life than sleeping in and getting high with you
I had to let go of us to show myself what I could do
And that just didn't sit right with you
"I think we're done here." Quinn said with the straightest face nearly running for the door.
"Quinn, let's just talk about this." I said following her when she swung the front door open to be face to face with Puck.
Almost as soon as it happened, she walked past Puck, leaving him on the front steps surprised.
"Puck.." I started, when he too turned and left.
(Quinn's point of view)
I knew it! It was always Santana who won. She won the guy, my trust, and now my daughter all because she did everything that I was supposed to do.
She was there for Beth, she lived in Lima still, and of course there's no surprise that he was coming over to her place at 9:18P at night no doubt to finish what they started.
No wonder she kept me a secret. She didn't want me to see Beth because then her life taking my place as the shadow of Quinn Fabray would die. She would no longer be needed, and she would lose everything.
She didn't tell Rachel the truth to stop Finn. She wanted to stop me from making a scene so that I would come and go just like she hoped.
How could I not see it before?
"Quinn." I froze with my hand on the door handle of my car. I haven't heard that voice in five years. I didn't even dare turn around. He couldn't see me like this.
I opened my door.
"Hey, I know you're upset, but please don't drive angry." He begged. I closed my door and sat in the driver's seat for a minute before unlocking the passenger door.
He got in and we sat in silence looking straight ahead. I bet he was at a loss for words now. I caught them! What did I care, after all I was passing through? I just didn't expect it to hurt this much.
I sighed before cutting the silence.
"I guess Santana won this time for real. I mean, I left you, her, Beth and I come back to see things working because she made them work for all of you." I said barely above a whisper.
"Quinn.."
"She's supposed to be my friend. You were my friend!" I spat feeling betrayed.
"Friend? What kind of friend gives up the child and doesn't tell the fake father who the real father is?" Puck challenged.
"What kind of friend moves away without saying anything? Sound familiar because before I did it to you, you did it to me!" I screamed feeling threatened.
"Are you kidding? Quinn, you never once looked at me the way you did Finn. You never gave me a chance to be better, to prove to you that I could do this, so you're right I left. I thought the only people that I could lean on were Shelby, my mom and Santana, and you know for a while it did the trick until I fell in love with being Beth's father. And then one day, I decided that I missed you too much and Beth became my excuse to be closer to you in a letter." He admitted. I lost all my energy so I sat and listened.
"Santana didn't steal a thing from you. She preserved what you had because deep down she's protecting her niece from reliving her hell without a father. She's not competing against you, she's been on your side fighting for you, cleaning up your mess this whole time. You don't get to come back to town and be upset with anyone if you're not going to look in the mirror and acknowledge your role." Puck finished.
"I came to drop of this to San." He handed me some papers that looked like an application.
"Shelby wants to go to Chicago, and I got the transfer approved so that I can serve on Base and not be penalized by the Army. I never told her, and I wanted to do it face to face and crash on the couch like we were teenagers again. I wanted to have my best friend tell me how stupid I was and that she was coming with me. I wanted to fall asleep knowing that if anything ever happened to Beth or myself, that she would be there when you couldn't." He admitted.
At this point, I was so mentally exhausted that I couldn't shed any tears.
Why did I come back? I was only making it worse.
I reached for Puck's hand, something I would definitely get in trouble for later, and said
"I'm so sorry Puck. I have to go."
He sighed, and kissed my hand before getting out of the car. That's when I realized he left his papers in my rental.
"Puck, wait, your application." I said. He turned around, meeting me halfway before taking the papers from my hand. He made a mistake and said "Take care of yourself Q" before turning to leave.
That's when I grabbed his shoulders, and gave him the biggest embrace.
I sighed relieved when he squeezed me back. I never wanted to leave his embrace. I just wanted time to sit still so that I could be in his arms again. I missed that. I missed him.
"I missed you so much Q. We all did."
I'm not sure how long we stood like that, but I was pretty sure that I actually looked terrible. Daniel would have a million questions if he saw me like this.
"I have to get going, but thank you Puck for reminding me of what a friend looks like. Tell Santana all is forgiven? I'll call her, I just have to get going." He nodded releasing me from his embrace.