The large hospital was bustling for a Monday morning, Santana had luckily found parking as Brittany walked happily next to a frustrated Beth. Santana understood the frustrations the 16-year-old was feeling. She was on summer break, and she didn't want to be in the hospital, least of all with her mom who was incredibly overprotective with anything that involved her.
"You know," Santana said over her shoulder, "the faster we get in, the faster we get out." She happened to send a glance back at Beth who perked up at this.
"Do you think my mom is going to make this into a huge deal?" Beth asked inquisitively.
Santana looked at Brittany who looked casually at her with a small smirk. "Oh… probably not. She gets consulted on a lot of serious issues in the ER." Santana thought of Quinn's specialty as a neurologist. She knew that Quinn was probably imagining the worst considering what she dealt with daily.
Her thoughts were confirmed by Quinn standing at the entrance to the ER tapping her foot, glancing at her phone screen every few moments. Quinn always looked stunning, even in her light blue, worn down scrubs. She had her hair in a loose ponytail, and even when she was running on a few hours of sleep, she still looked like a model.
Brittany noticed Quinn and bounced as she walked, waving and smiling to Quinn.
Quinn couldn't hold back her smile as it spread across her face. Brittany always eased her mind, if the other blonde hadn't gone into computer engineering, then she would have made an amazing doctor.
"Hey guys," Quinn ran towards them, smiling a knowing smile at Brittany and Santana before turning to Beth "sweetheart how are you feeling?" Quinn reached for her daughter who sighed and slightly rolled her eyes. She immediately regretted it because she received the classic "mom look".
"I feel fine." Beth said, rubbing at her arm that had road rash on it. "Honestly, it was just surprising."
Quinn followed her movement and gently touched her arm, unconsciously checking for any deformities or tenderness. "Did you hit your head?" Clear fear in her eyes.
"No mom." Beth stared at her feet, "I just am sore. Can I please go home?" Beth said sadly, which confused Quinn.
Quinn led her towards the ER entrance, turning towards Santana and Brittany, "You don't have to come, I know you guys are busy." Quinn said softly, "I've got her." The doctor was clearly trying to ask for time to speak with her daughter.
Brittany looped her arm through Santana's, "I can work from Santana's office until you're done. Then I'll come get Little B." Brittany smiled kindly at her little love.
Beth smiled at her aunts and looked at her mom who was also doing the weird communication with her eyes with Santana. "Can we just go?" Beth directed at her mom.
Quinn then looked to her mini me, "Yes baby." She said kindly, returning one look to Santana "I'll call you soon."
Santana nodded and looked to Beth "Love you, honey." She whispered and took Brittany in her hand. "Call us when you're ready." And with that her aunts headed off.
Quinn gently led her daughter through the buzzing ER, many of the hospital staff looking to Quinn and smiling. Beth didn't realize how popular her mom was at the hospital.
"Dr. Fabray." An older nurse smiled to Quinn. She was a shorter woman with graying hair.
Quinn smiled, "It's just Quinn, to you." She smiled kindly to the nurse.
The older woman simply smiled and shook her head before looking to Beth. "This must be Beth?" She smiled warmly at Beth and Beth couldn't help already feeling warmth and comfort in her presence.
Beth held her hand out "It's nice to meet you, ma'am." Beth said politely, gently shaking the woman's hand.
The nurse smiled back, "Polite too? Well sweetheart, let me take you into this room and get you all hooked up." She led Beth while her mom smiled.
"I'll be right there." Quinn said. Another doctor was speaking to Quinn about an MRI report.
Beth huffed at this. She didn't want to be here as it was. The nurse beside her laughed quietly next to her as they entered the area with a hospital bed. "Here sweetie." She said, offering her hand so Beth could sit on the bed. "Unfortunately," The nurse began, as she grabbed a C-Collar from the cabinet, "until we can rule out any injury, I have to put this on you."
The "C-Collar" was uncomfortable, and Beth cursed Rachel Berry. How dare she hit her? How dare she make her go to the stupid hospital and make her wear a stupid cone of shame?
Beth had been waiting for her mom for over a half-hour. She began to think about what she knew about Rachel Berry. She remembered how mad her momma got whenever Rachel Berry was brought up. Her accent was so strong, sometimes she couldn't understand her. Santana was unusually quiet, and Brittany would occasionally talk about happy times, like when Rachel would sing to Beth whenever she wouldn't sleep. Britanny told her that she would sleep anytime Rachel sang. Santana would make comments about it being because Rachel was boring.
Her mom well-
Quinn pulled the curtain back, smiling kindly at her daughter. "I take it they drew blood and took some scans?" The doctor sat on the bed with her daughter, gently placing her hand on her leg. "Feeling okay, sweetie?"
Beth examined her mom. She looked exhausted, slightly dark bags forming under her eyes. You would never think Quinn was a doctor, a neurosurgeon at that. She was beyond kind to everyone they ran into, and she didn't ever tell anyone she was a doctor. Beth always wondered how her mom became so humble about everything in life.
"What's on your mind?" Quinn slightly gripped her leg, bringing her back to their present.
"Who was Rachel to you?" Beth asked softly. She figured she was a romantic partner at some point. She wasn't sure if that's why they didn't get along. She was starting to wonder if she was the reason they didn't like each other anymore. "Did I do something to make you and momma not like her?"
Quinn shuddered and immediately grabbed her daughter, hugging her closely before sighing and pulling away. "Honey, it was never you." Quinn smoothed her daughter's hair down, giggling slightly at the C-Collar. She knew her daughter no longer needed it, she had already reviewed the scans, Beth was just fine. She couldn't help the chance to see her daughter looking slightly goofy.
Beth rolled her eyes. "Then why do you guys hate her so much?" The younger Quinn pouted, and sometimes she wondered how much Rachel had rubbed off on her daughter.
Quinn smiled sadly. "Rachel and I were together in college." Beth frowned, remembering that's when her mom's had met. "Your momma was my roommate, but Rachel and I were together until sophomore year. We decided to separate." Quinn hummed.
Beth knew better, this was what her mom always said when there was more to be said. "Then why hate her?"
Quinn cleared her throat, of course her daughter wouldn't accept that. Sighing, Quinn turned her body slightly away, tugging at her scrubs. She really needed a nap and shower. "I don't hate her, sweetie. Rachel just wanted different things than I did."
Beth gasped, reaching for her mom. "Did she dump you?" grabbing at her mom when she slightly hummed. "Has she seen you?" Beth began. "Has she seen you lately?" Beth began to squirm, getting her legs under her as she stared at her mom. "You should go confront her, mom! She needs to see…" Beth gestured at her mom "all of this!" Beth exclaimed
Quinn laughed at this and swatted at her daughters' hands. "Beth."
"No, really!" Beth shot up off the bed, "If she sees who you've become? She will be so devastated!"
Quinn rolled her eyes and gently grasped her daughter, guiding her back to the bed. She knew teenagers were dramatic, but goodness. "Sweetie," Quinn started, reaching for her phone as it rang, "Rachel doesn't mean anything to me now. She's a stranger." Quinn glanced at the text. It read Call me ASAP. Quinn frowned; she didn't know who would be texting her.
"Well, she should at least see how great you are!" Beth looked at her mom with complete adoration. "You're basically a superhero!"
As if on queue, the paging system rang out "Dr. Fabray to trauma bay 1. Dr. Fabray to trauma bay 1."
Quinn smiled at Beth. "Call your aunt's." She kissed her daughter on the cheek, "You're fine!" Quinn began walking away.
"Hey! What about this thing?" Beth began to pull at it. "Why is it on if I'm 'fine'?" Beth yelled to her mom.
Quinn laughed, turning to yell back, "You just look so cute with it!"
Quinn returned her attention to Trauma Bay 1 and breathed in heavily. She didn't want to tell her daughter that Rachel Berry was very much still someone who lived in her heart. She would always love her; she had been her first love. Her true love.
Beth knew she should call her aunt's. She knew that her mom would be upset and worried about her if she disappeared. She KNEW better. But it just couldn't stop her today. She needed to know what happened between her mom and Rachel Berry.
That is exactly why Beth Fabray, black jean shorts and a loose t-shirt that had the play "Wicked" on it, Converse slightly not laced well at all, and her sporty blonde hair in a tight bun, was standing outside of a large theater that she knew Rachel Berry was at. How did she know this? Rachel Berry had quite the online following, her fans were very vocal. Beth Fabray needed answers, and she knew how to get them.
As Beth walked up to the theater, she noticed quite a few people with cameras waiting around out front. "Any luck?" Beth asked casually as she walked up towards the paparazzi.
The man looked her up and down and sighed. "Look kid, I don't have time for her weirdo fans. Get out of here."
Beth raised her eyebrow at this man. "Dick." She said angrily and kept walking. She sometimes hated New York. It made her have thick skin, but she could do without some of these people. Beth strolled up to the entrance where a man in slacks and a white tee shirt was posted up.
He glanced at her and smiled. "If you're looking to talk with Rachel Berry then I'm sorry but I need to turn you away." He said with more kindness in his voice than the other man.
"Can you just tell her Beth Fabray is here to see her?" Beth said excitedly.
The man perked up at this. "Beth Fabray, huh?" He looked more closely at her. Beth knew she'd make it in! He gave a slight laugh. "Yeah kid, I don't think that's gonna mean anything." And then turned away from her, getting on his phone to scroll.
Beth stomped her foot at this and spun around. How dare he? She is BETH FABRAY! Rachel Berry would be lucky to see her. She decided that she needed to be tactical about this.
For the next hour, Beth watched the doorman, aggressively cursing his strong bladder as he drank his second water bottle without needing a bathroom break. Just when all hope was almost lost, the man glanced in both directions before taking his leave into the theater.
"YES!" Beth whispered. She waited two minutes and ran straight towards the theater. She began tugging on the…locked doors. "NO!" Beth yelled. The doorman exited from the doors as she tugged, causing her to fall back.
"What the heck?" He exclaimed. Beth crawled forward, attempting to go between his legs. "Hey!" He turned and grabbed her.
"RACHEL! ITS BETH! BETH FABRAY!" Beth screamed as he hauled her into the air. "LET GO!"
She screamed. Dramatics were always her specialty. He walked her back out, setting her down. "Cut the shit!" He yelled at her. "Leave or I'll call the police." He began to shut the theater doors but was slammed by the door. "Ooof!"
Beth stared at Rachel Berry who came running from the theater. "Beth?" She asked, surprised to see the young girl. "What are you doing here?" Rachel was shocked, being in rehearsal and hearing screams for her, coming from no one other than Beth Fabray.
"I-I need to talk to you!" Beth hurried, "It's important!" Beth flinched at the bright lights hitting her eyes.
She felt a hand grabbing her and leading her away. "Keep them out!" Rachel tugged Beth into the theater, darkness engulfing her.
Rachel turned to take the girl in, different than this morning, where she was very angry and tired. Now she looked scared, concerned. Rachel felt her heart skipping beats. She felt so much love for the child in front of her. Remembering being the first person to ever hold Beth.
Beth rubbed at her eyes, letting them adjust, and noticing that Rachel Berry was staring at her like she was going to cry. And then… all of Rachel's cast members were staring as well. Bethe cleared her throat. "Uhh..hi?" She said to the cast.
This snapped Rachel out of her thoughts, noticing the cast. "Oh. Oh! Everyone, this is Beth! I hit her with my car this morning." Rachel explained, people gaping at her. "It's okay, I dated her mom." Rachel tried to explain. Blush was creeping onto her face; this was going horribly. "Anyways! I think that I'm done stretching and cooling down. I'll be in my dressing room!" Rachel squeaked and led Beth away.
Beth followed blindly to the large changing room that Rachel had. She looked at the large mirror and makeup. She saw all the clothes and ran her fingers over them on their hangers. "Wow" she thought "this is amazing!" She turned to look at a stunned Rachel standing at the door. "Hi." She chirped.
Rachel smiled nervously. "I take it you're not still upset about this morning?" Rachel was a teenager once; she knew that emotions were a wicked thing. "Or are you here to fight me, perhaps?" She asked as a joke but part of her could see Santana in the young girl.
Beth snapped her attention to her, feeling the buzzing of her phone. "I have questions." The blonde said as she glanced at her phone. She had missed calls and texts from her mom and aunts. She was in for it. She sighed and shoved her phone in her pocket. "Look," She began, making Rachel smirk. Beth acted a lot like her as a teenager. "I want to know what your history is with my moms and aunts."
Rachel frowned. Oh. That. The singer clasped her hands together, walking towards the couch and motioning for Beth to sit down. "How much do you know?" Rachel asked. She was afraid. Afraid of bringing these feelings up, afraid of what could happen if she told Beth too much.
Beth thought about this. "Well, you dated my mom." Rachel smiled at this. "But you dumped her in college." Rachel then grimaced. That was true…sort of. She did ultimately cause the end of their relationship. "But she got to be with my momma because of it." Rachel frowned at this, feeling guilty because Beth clearly was happy about this. It was clear she loved her momma. Rachel had questions for Beth, but knew she needed to give answers first.
"What would you like to know?" Rachel asked with her poster smile, hoping it conveyed happiness and not heartbreak.
Beth leaned in, rubbing her hands together as if she was hitting the lottery. "What happened between you guys? My mom is very vague." Beth motions into the air.
Rachel can't help but smile. Beth absolutely picked up some of her habits. She could see all her old friends in Beth. It was clear that they stayed in her life.
"I understand why you want to know this." Rachel said softly. She looked kindly at the girl. "You were such a huge part of my life." Rachel could feel her voice breaking, seeing the girl grown from a toddler was heartbreaking and lovely at the same time. She felt tears on her cheeks.
Beth frowned at this, reaching for Rachel's hand, "Hey…woah I'm really sorry." Beth said quickly. "I shouldn't have come here-" Beth went to stand but Rachel grasped her hand and pulled her back.
"No-no, it's okay!" Rachel quickly explained. "I didn't realize how much I've missed you is all."
Beth hummed. She was torn, if Rachel wanted to be in her life, she could have been. "Why did you leave then?"
Rachel sighed. She knew this would be hard. "I broke your mom's heart." Rachel said softly. "I was young and selfish." Rachel saw Beth frown. She shook off her feelings. "It wasn't fair to any of you, and I wanted to come back, but I couldn't. I had hurt her too much."
Beth thought about this for a while and then hummed. "I get it." Rachel quirked an eyebrow. "That's why momma has taken so long to get home." Rachel definitely was confused now.
"How did Quinn meet your mother?" Rachel found herself asking.
Beth looks at her quizzically. "You don't know?" Rachel shook her head. "They were roommates in college." Beth explained. "I don't really know, it's really confusing." Beth shook her head.
But Rachel, Rachel knew. "Our freshman year went great." Rachel began to explain to Beth. "It was perfect. I guess…" Rachel sighed, shaking her head angrily. "I guess that I saw other people doing dumb things like partying and hooking up and I thought I was somehow missing out." Rachel looked deep into Beth's eyes. "I was not." Rachel motions at Beth "I missed out on something so much more important." The tears streamed down Rachel's face once more.
"I told Quinn I needed to experience dorm life and so she moved in with…" Rachel sighed, she knew who Beth's momma was now, "Jamie. She was the only person who would live with Brittany, Santana, Quinn and…you." Rachel felt guilty for saying it. But a lot of college students don't want to live with a toddler. "Jamie was great with you. She was patient and kind and," Rachel laughs sadly "I think I was jealous with how natural she was with you."
Beth smiled happily at this. She had no idea about most of her upbringing. Just that she was-is- very loved.
Rachel sniffled and smiled at Beth "I messed up pretty badly. I hurt the people I loved the most."
Beth sighed again. "My mom has been hurt a lot, huh?"
Rachel could feel tears in her eyes. "She has, yes." Rachel held tighter to Beth's hand. "I didn't mean to hurt either of you." Rachel said quietly. "Do you…do you remember me at all?"
Beth smiled at this. She can only remember small things from Rachel. Her laugh, and her voice. Mostly the singing. Particularly the song "At All Costs" which Beth felt herself beginning to hum.
Rachel's eyes snapped to Beth and gasped quietly.
"If happiness was a tangible thing
It would be you" Rachel began to sing, walking towards the mirror and smiling gently in the reflection to Beth.
"If you'd have told me the feeling you'd bring
I'd think it untrue"
"And people search for a wonder like you
All of their lives"
"You still amaze me after all this time" Rachel thinks back to the younger Beth, taking her first steps, looking at the girl in front of her now, she feels tears stream down her face.
"You pull me in like some kind of wind
Mesmerized by the hold I'm in
Leave you here, I don't wanna
I wanna" Rachel thinks back to Quinn, staring at her as she told her she could no longer live the life of a parent. That she needed to experience college a young adult, not a mom.
"Promise as one does
I, I will protect you at all costs
Keep you safe here in my arms
I, I will protect you at all costs
At all costs" Rachel feels the necklace hanging against her neck, resting lightly on her chest. Thinking back to when Quinn gave this to her on their first Christmas alone with Beth in New York. She wishes she could go back to that time.
"What's pain? When I look at you? No way
I could explain you, even if tried to
I'll never dream like used to do" Quinn jumped from the taxi, heading to the theater. She watched the ping of Beth's location on her phone. Of course.
"If someone tried to hurt you, I don't
See how that could happen
I'd fight for you in ways you can't imagine" The tall man who stopped Beth earlier began to motion and speak. Quinn grabbed his arm aggressively, twisting it until it was almost broken. She let go as he grabbed at it, heading into the theater.
"Felt this, no, I haven't, I hope
It would be all right to stay right here beside you" Quinn feels sick to her stomach, she sees the dressing room illuminated and begins the trek towards her daughter.
"And promise as one does
I, I will protect you at all costs
Keep you safe here in my arms
I, I will protect you at all costs
At all costs" Quinn slams the door open, Rachel looking from Beth and spinning around to meet Quinns eyes as they both continue.
"If you're ever feeling like you're lost
I'll come find you
Man all fronts, there's no ocean I won't swim across
To be right by you
And not just once, here and now I swear on my response
I'll remind you" Rachel stares deeply at the doctor, light blue scrubs and a messy bun. She's the most beautiful woman she's ever seen. So close, but yet so far. A stranger at the same time as the most intimately known person she has ever had.
"And promise as one does
I, I will protect you at all costs
Keep you safe here in my arms
I, I will protect you at all costs
At all costs" Rachel sings to Quinn this time, trying to convey that now, now that she is back in her life, she WILL NOT let her go. She won't let either of them now.
Quinn steps forward and cradles Beth's face, before pulling her towards her, stepping in front of her in a protective stance.
"Quinn…" Rachel breathes out, unable to form words.
Quinn looks to Rachel her expression unreadable. She then remembers her daughter and turn around to face her. "What are you thinking?" She looks sadly at Beth, scared and angry.
Beth sighs. She's in for it. "I just wanted to know about you and Rachel." She looks behind Quinn at Rachel. "I remember her. I just wanted to remember more."
Quinn looks at her daughter sympathetically. She understands this, but she also remembers what Rachel does to people. What she did to her. She needs to protect her daughter from that hurt.
"We'll talk about this with your momma." Quinn says.
This causes Beth to stomp her foot. Rachel feels herself laugh at this, before letting the words sink in. Quinn clearly has a wife. A wife that she raised Beth with. Oh. Right.
Beth tears her arm away from Quinn, "Momma is still gone. I'm not waiting."
Quinn feels her blood boil, she tries not to get too angry at Beth. She will never be like her father, so she takes some deep breaths. "She's trying, sweetheart. COVID kept her away."
"Right." Beth turns on her heel, ripping the door open, "With her other family, right? With that stupid bitch she married!" Beth cries and slams the door.
Quinn stares at where her daughter was, her eyes as wide as saucers. "I-..uh." She has her eyebrows narrowed now, turning to look at the only other person in the room.
Rachel is now more confused than she was. Quinn is divorced?
Quinn laughs slightly like a crazy person. "Kids, am I right?"
And Rachel can't help but laugh too. Because even if Quinn seems sleep deprived and stressed and slightly crazy, she still has the most beautiful laugh and smile.
Rachel takes a step towards Quinn, the singer coming into full view. Her beautiful dark eyes, impossibly long legs and mesmerizing smile. "Hi, Quinn."
Quinn wipes at her tears and sighs. She had a feeling it wouldn't be this simple. It never was with anything involving Rachel Berry. "Hi, Rachel." She said, with a smile in her tone.