Author's note: By far, this is my favorite chapter! I hope everyone enjoys it; includes a flashback. First time I've ever done a flashback, ever. Based on reviews no one saw this coming. Also, I've got some fluff and I polished the Shelby storyline from glee, and obviously, no beth. Read and Review!

-Ashlee :)

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

The next morning Quinn and Rachel woke up wrapped up together in bliss. Quinn noticed Rachel stirring a bit as she tried to get up. Quinn was almost out of the clear when her girlfriend grabbed her arm and pulled her back down to cuddle.

"Stay," Rachel mumbled.

"Baby, I can't. I'm meeting with Cedes for breakfast," Quinn said, and then kissed Rachel's head.

"Mkay hurry back."

"I will, love you."

"Love you more," Quinn grabbed her coat and headed out the bedroom and out of the house.

Quinn got to the restaurant and instantly spotted her best friend.

"Q!" Mercedes met Quinn halfway and engulfed her best friend in a hug.

"Gosh, it's been so long since I've seen you or talked to you without the sound of children in the background," Quinn said releasing her hold.

"I know!" Mercedes showed Quinn to their table and they both took a seat. "I already ordered you French toast and extra bacon," Mercedes said with a laugh and a wink.

"You know me so well," Quinn smiled.

"So, how's things with Rach? I miss her ole short self!"

"A little rocky here and there but love prevails, haha. It's just the Sam thing over and over again. It's getting old and I'm tired of being upset about it."

"I'm proud of you Q. Although your news makes my news slightly less exciting."

"Oh yeah! You found someone! Where do you meet? What's their name? Do I know him? Do I know her?" Quinn asked the last one with an eyebrow raised.

"Quinn, you know I loves the men. Anyways, his name is…" Mercedes dragged out.

"Come on out with it, woman!"

"Sam Evans," Mercedes' grin was taking up her entire face.

"What!" Quinn almost did a spit take, but choked a little on her drink instead.

"Yeah well, I went to an audition for The Lion King on Broadway and—"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, you auditioned for Broadway? As in the Broadway?"

"Yes, now can I finish?"

"Did you get the part?"

"Yes, that's not the point the point is—"

"Oh my gosh! Congratulations!" Quinn jumped out of her seat and came around the table to hug Mercedes.

"Thank you Quinn. Now sit your ass back down so I can finally finish my damn story."

Quinn looked like a kicked puppy and silently went back to her seat and sat quietly, signally she was ready to listen.

"Okay so, I went to the audition and I was on my way out of the auditorium walking down the long aisle and I get to the last row and someone grabs my arm. At first, I ready to beat someone down. This is New York City, so I thought I was about to get mugged, but then I recognized his face.

Flashback

"I'm sorry if I man-handled you or-or something, but oh my gosh. You were—you were absolutely phenomenal. You just—you, you literally took my breath away." Sam said grabbing a hold on Mercedes' hand.

"Uh, thank you. It's an honor coming from a Broadway star such as yourself."

"Are you kidding me? I feel like—like I'm not worthy to be in your graces. Like, let me," Sam got down on his knees and started doing a bowing down motion.

Mercedes started looking around a little embarrassed, "Please stop. Please get up, that's not exactly sanitary."

Sam got up and brushed of his pants, then looked up into Mercedes' eyes, "Go out with me?"

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me. Go out with me. Please?"

"I-I barely know you. Besides, aren't you dating Rachel Berry?" Mercedes said with a laugh.

"Based on your laugh, I'm gonna say that you and I both know that's not really true."

Mercedes smiled at that, "Yeah, um, she's actually really dating my best friend."

"Really? It must be fate."

"Must be…"

End Flashback

"And we just hit it off from there," Mercedes said, the smile not leaving her face the entire story.

"This is amazing," Quinn had never seen her best friend so happy before, ever.

"You're just saying that because I finally got Sam out of your hair."

"No, truly, Cedes, I'm really happy for you," Quinn said grabbing her hand from across the table.

"Thanks, Q, it means a lot."

"Hey, what do you say we go back to my place? Lia, Santana, and Rachel really miss seeing you."

"Sounds great."

"So, you get to do the little opening? The Circle of Life!" Magnolia squealed.

"I sure do," Mercedes smiled.

They were all seated at the dinner table having a nice family meal and Mercedes had been with the Berry-Hummel-Lopez-Fabrays all day.

"Whoa!"

"Magnolia, sweetie, sit down while you're eating please," Rachel said sweetly.

"Sorry Mommy."

A phone ringing interrupted the conversation. Mereceds, Rachel, Quinn, Kurt, and Santana all checked their phones.

"It's me," Mercedes said. "Hey, babe." Mercedes mouthed that she'd be right back.

"I still can't believe she's with trouty mouth," Santana said with a laugh.

"It truly is a small world after all," Kurt added in.

Mercedes came back into the room with a guilty smile.

"You gotta leave don't you?" Rachel questioned.

"Yeah, Sam wants to show me this new movie he got bootleg, so, Quinn and Lia I'll see you tomorrow, Kurt and Rachel, I'll see you soon."

"Bye!" Everyone called out from the dinner table.

"Can I just say that I am so happy right now," Rachel said.

"Oh please Berry, you're just happy that Sam is finally on lock," Santana said truthfully.

"That may be true, but I don't think there's anything wrong with that," Quinn defended.

"Girls, girls, hush up and let Lia talk about kid stuff."

"Thank you, Uncle Kurt. Okay, so I want everybodies to know that I discovered…"

Everyone sat staring at the child in anticipation.

"I have superpowers," Lia whispered.

All the adults at the table busted out laughing while a pouting child was glaring at them.

Three hours later…

Magnolia had been bathed and tucked into bed by her Mother and Quinn while Kurt and Santana were exploring the clubs of NYC. Rachel and Quinn stayed up and talked over a few glasses of wine and then crawled back into bed.

"Quinn?" Rachel asked, while Quinn was spooning her from behind.

"Yes, sweetie?"

"I think I'm going to pick up Lia tomorrow and take her out for a mommy-and-me day. I miss her and she misses me."

"I think that's a great idea. She really needs that time with you."

Rachel sat up against the headboard and Quinn followed suit.

"I know, I just hate I can't be the mother she deserves, while trying to follow my dreams. I don't want to be like my mother."

Rachel talked to Quinn about her dads all the time, but this is only the second time in their whole relationship she has brought up her mother. All Quinn knows is that Rachel had a mother who gave her up for adoption, but it was an open adoption. The only problem was, Rachel's mother never attempted to contact her. Her mother tried to have a relationship with Rachel in high school, but decided against it.

"What did your mother do?" Quinn asked gently.

Rachel looked down at her joined hands.

"You can tell me, baby."

"She wanted to be a mother to me while I was young. You know, teach me all the things a father couldn't—two fathers couldn't. She—Shelby, had an extraordinary voice and could sing like no other. She was the original Elphaba in Wicked."

Quinn's mouth was agape, "your birth mother is Shelby Corcoran."

"The one and only," Rachel ended with a laugh.

Quinn grabbed Rachel's hand for support.

"She couldn't do both—she wouldn't do both. Be a Broadway legend and a mother, so she chose. She chose to abandon me. When we reconnected in high school she used a boy to get to me, which was pretty tacky if I do say so myself. Then, she tells me, she's my mother, but not my mom. It was true. Later in High school she came back and we sang together and we clicked. We felt this strong connection neither of us could ignore. As I got older and after I got pregnant she was more frequently in my life. She is a part of Magnolia's life, but she doesn't call her grandma. It just works now. I don't see her except for one a year, but she calls and emails. It works for us. The point is, we are good—no great—now, but I can't tell you how many times I wondered where my mother was as a child and my dads told me the same thing, 'she's following her dreams, sweetie, like you will one day. She's a big, big star.'"

"Rachel, you've already done better than she did."

"Have I? I mean right now, Santana and Kurt are like my dads were to me. I just don't want to miss the important stuff. Did you know for one of my first major auditions, I almost miss Mags' first steps? Quinn, I cried for days! I mean, yeah, I left in the middle and I made it, but I didn't get the part. It was horrible Quinn. Then and there I felt like a failure." Rachel had tears in her eyes by now.

"Rachel, you are a great mother and Lia knows what you are doing is very important to you. Your little girl is so proud of you every day. You know, at school, I hear her telling her classmates that her mother is a star. It's even funnier when she has to explain you're not in the sky," Quinn and Rachel shared a laugh. "You," Quinn took Rachel's face in her hands, "are a great mother and you should be proud."

"Quinn, I want you to meet my dads… and my mom."

"Okay," Quinn said without a doubt.

"Okay?"

"Okay." Rachel leaned in and kissed Quinn. The two lied down in their original positions, with Quinn spooning Rachel and the two drifted off to sleep.