Extremely late, but it's a post.

-/-/-/-/-/-

Lauren stayed silent the entire ride to Shelby's, her mind racing a hundred miles an hour. What was happening? Was Shelby going to be there? What all did she need to get? Was this just one night?

"She won't do anything." Rachel announced as she pulled into the driveway behind Shelby's car, almost as if she had been reading her thoughts. Lauren turned to look at her, unbuckling her seat belt instinctively. "Shelby. She won't do anything. And if she tries, I'll handle it. Okay?"

Lauren didn't answer beyond nodding her head. She could barely breathe at the moment.

As the pair walked up to the door, Rachel suddenly second guessed herself. They had Beth's key. Did she use it or did she knock? If she just went in, would that piss Shelby off? Would that even matter? Rachel mumbled to herself, "fuck it" and walked straight in to the house.

Shelby was in the living room watching tv causing the actresses to stop in the foyer, looking right at her until she motioned for Lauren to head up stairs. The two older brunettes spent the time staring at each other, both very aware of what was taking place with Beth.

"I'm surprised to see you here again." Shelby remarked, turning her attention back to her movie. "Maybe I shouldn't be though."

Rachel crossed her arms and took a single step closer to the living room. "Beth doesn't want to see you so someone had to help Lauren get their stuff."

"So, now you're kidnapping?"

"If you feel like pressing charges feel free to call Noah. I'm sure he'd love to hear how you've turned your back on his daughter?"

"Turned my back?" Shelby huffed a laugh, dismissing Rachel further by not even turning to look at her as they spoke. "I didn't turn my back on her. I gave her exactly what she wanted. Freedom. To be treated like an adult. She told him she wants the same thing from him so I'm sure he will be more than understanding."

"Freedom? By emotionally abandoning her." Rachel clarified taking another step in to the room.

"What is with you and that word?" Shelby slapped her hands down on her thighs and finally turned roughly to face her birth daughter.

"Because that's what you're doing."

"You're projecting."

"You're downplaying."

"Abandoning her? No. No I'm not. I am giving her what she wants which is what I have always done." The older woman's voice raised as she stood and slowly closed the distance between them. "I have always given her everything she wanted. I have followed every passion, every talent, every hobby she showed the slightest bit of interest in. I have bought every birthday present she has ever wanted. I let her meet Quinn and spend time with her. I let her graduate early and move to fucking New York City to live with you. I have tried to deal with her behavioral issues myself and with professionals. I have tried to handle her rebelling the best I could. And now, I don't have the authority to anymore. She's done being parented. She wants freedom to do what she wants, so now she can. I'm letting her do that as well."

Rachel stood there shaking her head and let the tension fall from her shoulders. "You make it sound like some grand gesture of love and affection that you should be praised and awarded for but all you've done is described what it is to be a parent. And don't even try me about Beth's behavior. If she was that troubled of a kid, I would have seen it by now. And what I have seen, is just normal teenager stuff. So stop trying to manipulate the facts to fit your narrative."

Shelby turned away and then turned right back around. "You know what, I want my daughter home and you need to bring her back."

"She's not going anywhere."

The older woman shrugged. "Then I'll call the cops."

Without hesitation Rachel walked over to the sofa, picked up Shelby's cellphone and placed it in the older woman's hand. "Start dialing."

-/-/-/-/-/-

"So, let me get this straight." Puck started with his face scrunched in confusion as he paced slowly between the two brunettes in the living room. The third, Lauren, was sitting on the couch, leaned forward with her elbows on her knees, watching him as he went back and forth. "You and Beth had a fight, and she's wanting to stay at the Berry's house for the night... and you want me to arrest Rachel *and* Quinn... who isn't even here, because Beth won't come back."

He stopped abruptly and faced Shelby for confirmation. "Yes."

"And you don't think that's a bit extreme?"

Rachel fought hard to hold back her smile but just managed, turning her attention to the other officer standing just behind her near the door.

"Extreme or not, I want my daughter back in my house."

Puck opened his mouth and shut it before turning to his partner. "Do you mind waiting outside for just a minute?" The other officer met each of the women's eyes before calmly leaving the house and shutting the door behind him. As soon as the door clicked shut the formality dropped from Puck's posture. "What the hell is going on here? Seriously, Shelby? You want me to arrest them?"

"I want my daughter back." Shelby spit out quickly.

"And she doesn't want to be back." Rachel shot back just as fast.

"It doesn't matter what she wants. She's a minor. She's my daughter. I am her mother and she will do as I say."

Puck stepped forward and placed a hand on Shelby's shoulder who was unconsciously taking anger filled steps towards Rachel. "Look, Shelb."

"Don't call me that."

He rolled his eyes and retracted his hand. "I get that you're upset. But Beth has done this before. She's gotten mad and stayed over at a friends house and it was no big deal. Why don't we all just take a deep breath and think about this rationally before we start arresting people for simply having good intentions."

Rachel was rather thankful Puck couldn't see the confusion on her face. It probably wouldn't have helped her cause if he saw how shocked she was at his moment of maturity. So she glanced over at Lauren and gave a quick, comforting smile that the barista mirrored back. Before they broke eye contact, Rachel pulled her phone from her pocket and motioned for Lauren to come and get it while Puck and Shelby continued their conversation in more hushed tones.

The barista stood up and grabbed the phone but Rachel pulled her close before relinquishing the device. "Call my dads. Not Quinn."

Lauren nodded and left the room to find some privacy in the kitchen.

-/-/-/-/-/-

"You won't believe the phone call I just got." Kevin admitted as he approached his husband and boys who were sitting on the bench outside of the local ice cream shop. "And I can't really tell you in present company." He continued, darting his eyes to the young ones. "But we have big trouble brewing."

Elijah sighed and shifted his glasses on his face. "Who got arrested?" His tone was mildly dismissive and unimpressed.

Kevin rolled his eyes and sat down. "No one yet. But it's going to be Rachel first if this doesn't get resolved quickly."

The shorter man met his husband's eyes in question but there was too much to convey without a real conversation. "Is there anything we can do?"

Kevin pursed his lips in a confession. There was, but his husband wasn't going to like it. "You'll need to make a phone call to an old co-worker. It's the only thing I can think of." He held out his phone and waited for his husband to take it. "I will stay with the boys."

-/-/-/-/-/-

"It sure is taking them a long time to get back." Beth observed as she walked by the living room windows again in a slow stroll, arms crossed over her chest. "Do you think they ran into my mom? And she's giving them a hard time?"

Quinn was still sitting in her place on the sofa, fighting back her own anxiety. She had messaged Rachel just a few minutes ago to check about the delay herself. All she got back was an uncharacteristic reply of 'working on it'. "I'm sure they're fine. Probably just making sure they have everything they can get. You know?"

The corner of the teenager's mouth tweaked upward feigning belief. "What I know, is that you're a horrible liar. You might want to work on that."

"I would prefer not to." Quinn huffed in response. "I've done my share of lying in my life and I'd rather not continue the habit beyond that."

"I guess that's a good thing." Beth conceded with a sigh and turned from the window. She had grown very thankful for her birth mother's honesty. She had also grown to respect it. Honesty isn't always an easy thing to give. "I... would like to know more about you."

The sudden confession caught the older woman off guard but she didn't speak.

"I mean, not necessarily tonight. But I would like to learn more about you. More about who you are and who you were. How one turned into the other. You know? I guess, I want to understand you more."

Quinn sat forward slightly and studied her daughter closely. Her posture was relaxed. Her tone was calm. Her daughter was strong, having already processed enough of the evening's events to find this level of peace. "We can work on that." She agreed softly. "But I would like the same from you. I would also like to know more about you. All I really have is what Shelby was willing to give me and the bits and pieces I've learned from you during our brief interactions over the years and the two rarely add up. I've learned more about you during your brief time living with us than all the other years combined. But even most of that was through observation."

Beth turned around fairly quickly with a slight smile on her face. "Let's make this a game then. Because, like you, most of the things I've learned about you have either been told to me by someone else or are from my own observations as well. So... you tell me something you've learned about me and I will tell you something I've learned about you. We can discuss them and understand them or correct them if needed. Deal?"

"Okay. Easy enough." Quinn ran her hands over her thighs and thought. "You have issues with authority. You don't like being told what to do or even be given a strong suggestion. But... I know it's not a blanketed reaction. Because there are times you don't get upset, but rather feel guilty over instructions you are given if you feel they imply you have hurt somebody with your actions, prior to the instructions."

Beth's eyes drifted as she mauled the statement around and nodded in her acceptance of the fact. "I'm emotionally sensitive. And I don't like hurting or upsetting people. But!" She turned, still continuing her slow stroll around the room. "I do have my limits. I'm not always entirely sure what they are until they are crossed, but I do. I have two sides. I care too much, or I don't care enough."

Quinn smiled and nodded. "Thank you for confirming."

"You're welcome. Now, my turn." Beth's smirk faded as she thought for some time as to what she was going to ask first. There were a lot of topics she wanted to touch on but knew they couldn't all be tonight. But she wanted to make the moment count, just in case this opportunity never happened again. "You never seem to lose your cool. I mean, I've seen you a little nervous or anxious at times, but nothing extreme and never angry. It makes it seem like you're incapable of being angry."

Quinn smirked to herself. "That... would be incorrect. Highly inaccurate actually." Quinn didn't look up as her daughter watched intently, waiting for more information. "The truth is, up until my late twenties... I was nothing but angry. That was my default emotion. There was always this constant gnawing... unrelenting rage simmering just beneath the calm surface and any time anyone disturbed the calmness that was barely masking my pain... I would lash out. Didn't matter who it was or why."

"But something changed. Clearly."

"It did. Well," Quinn tilted her head in realization. "My mindset did. I started making little steps of finding my inner peace when I left Ohio after graduation. I didn't have the external forces pushing me to maintain the false calmness. I was able to start processing some of that anger and pain. But it wasn't until I found my first true support system that I was able to actually... heal." The photographer smiled to herself. "I will always be indebted to Adrianne for creating a safe and supportive environment that allowed me to break myself down and rebuild into what you see now."

"And the anger was lost in the process." Beth nodded to herself in understanding. "Your turn."

"My turn. Okay." Quinn paused. "You aren't mad at me. Or don't seem to be. Why is that?"

Beth was caught off guard and tensed slightly. "Why would I be?"

"Because I gave you up." The words stuck to the back of Quinn's throat and she cleared them away, surprised at the unchanging expression on her daughter's face.

"I've never been mad at you. I've been... confused and uncertain about some things. But never mad." Beth took a moment to lean against the window frame, half sitting on the ledge, her arms crossed over her chest. "From what I had been told, and from what I had observed myself when I first met you... you loved me. Love." She corrected her tense. "Me. And I guess I've never doubted that. So, I always assumed you had always had good intentions with your decisions. Your decision to give me up for adoption, your decision to give me to Shelby specifically. Your decision to leave Lima and not look back... but also your agreement to meet me and everything that's come after."

The older woman blew out her held breath. "I wish I had your faith in humanity still. Mine has been tarnished over time."

"Yeah, well," Beth relaxed her arms and fiddled with her fingers. "Looks like I should have taken those rose colored glass off sooner. But... um... can I ask you a question? An unfair question? And trust that you'll tell me the truth? Because I really need to hear the truth right now."

Quinn slowly straightened her posture, taking a deep breath before letting it out through her nose slowly. She didn't like the set up of the question. She didn't like making promises without knowing if she could really keep them. "An unfair question?"

The corner of Beth's mouth tightened and the relaxed while her eyes stayed fixed on her fingers. "I would imagine no parent would like to be asked questions like this one, so I consider it rather unfair to ask."

Parent. "Go ahead and I'll do my best."

Beth finally looked away, over to Madeline still sleeping peacefully. "Do you love me... like you love them?"

"Beth." Quinn couldn't get any other words to form and after a brief moment of hesitation she stood and walked over to her daughter, pulling her into a tight embrace. "I do. I absolutely do. And I never want you to doubt that. I never want to give you a reason to doubt it either. I'm not holding back anymore for Shelby's sake. Okay? She's blown it." Quinn stepped away and placed her hands on the teenager's shoulders. "I'm not saying she's not your mom or anything like that, but I'm not going to let her define our relationship anymore. I will give you whatever it is you want and will respect whatever boundaries you put in place. Okay?"

Beth met her eyes with her own, brimming with tears. "No boundaries. Just you."

-/-/-/-/-/-

"You need to send Beth home." Puck sighed, standing in front of Rachel in mild defeat. But his defeat was not shared.

Rachel was still standing as tall as she could manage, arms locked across her chest in defiance. "Sending her home is implying that I'm forcing her to stay. I'm not. She doesn't want to leave. She doesn't want to come here. So if I force her out, she's still not going to come back here. She will just end up somewhere else."

"And if I go get her and escort her back here, she's just going to climb out the window and head back to your place and we are going to start this night all over with again and I would really like for my shift to end."

The actress shrugged, unaffected by his plight. "Then clearly there is nothing you and I can do to fix this. She just needs to give in."

"Puckerman."

The old high school friends turned their attention to the other police officer standing halfway in the house, holding his phone to his ear. The man jerked his head, calling for the former jock. "I'll be right back. Just... don't start any more fights. Please."

Lauren looked at her watch as she approached the actress. They had been there nearly an hour now. "So, what do we do?"

Rachel shrugged but didn't remove her eyes from Puck. The front door of the house remained open as he moved some distance into the front yard and took the phone from his partner. Her gut was telling her something was happening. She just didn't know what.

"Right now, we just wait." The actress finally instructed before meeting Lauren's eyes reassuringly. "I'm hoping this night is about to end and hopefully it will do so in our favor. I'm not sure how, but I'm hoping."

Lauren sighed and tucked her hands in her pocket, watching as Puck roughly handed the phone back to his partner and straightened his uniform before heading back to the house. "You and I both."

He walked into the house and straight to the living room, not meeting anyone's eyes. "Shelby, if you would like to make this formal, you will have to fill out the proper forms at the station, but due to the time of day and scheduling of our clerk, you won't be able to do so until Monday. After you fill out the form it will addressed by the sherif and dealt with as needed. Until then, and on a personal note, I suggest you consider what filing that form would mean to your relationships with the people in your life. Have a good night."

The three women stood motionless in shock as he turned and began to leave. Shelby was the first to follow after him. "Are you serious? What kind of bullshit is this? Wait until Monday? I want to speak to your supervisor. I want him here now."

Puck stopped on the stoop and turned to face her, weakly meeting his eyes. "Those orders are from the top. Have a good night."

Rachel discreetly patted Lauren's leg. "Get the bags. Get the bags." The two shouldered the bags and quietly slipped out the door behind Shelby who had continued to follow Puck to his patrol car parked at the curb.

"What just happened?"

Rachel mashed her lips as she carefully opened the car door, throwing all of the belongings into the back seat and hoping not to draw attention to themselves. "I don't know, but I'm not going to complain."

-/-/-/-/-/-

"Your pacing is making me nervous." Quinn confessed as she and Beth both watched Elijah move in and out of the dining room to the front door and back again.

"Well, then at least I'm not alone. And before you ask me again, you will be filled in as soon as Rachel and Lauren are home. We need a family meeting."

Both blondes pulled their heads back and exchanged glances. They had never had a family meeting before. "What did my mother do?"

Elijah smiled at Beth as best he could and waved her off with his hand. "We will discuss it-" He cut himself off as headlights filtered in through the blinds of the house and he went straight for the door. "Thank God you're back."

"What the fuck happened?" Beth asked again as the two women finally made their way into the house and the blondes took the bags from them, setting them out of the way as they all made their way into the living room.

"Shelby had an ego trip." Rachel explained curtly. "Nothing more."

"Nothing more my ass." Elijah interrupted in a harsh tone that caused everyone in the room to instantly tense and pay attention. "I don't know what game is going on here, but you're playing chicken with some very serious legal charges."

"She called the cops on you? Are you serious?" Beth stepped forward, shifting her eyes between Rachel and her girlfriend.

"In the state of Ohio, Beth is a minor until the very day she turns 18. Not a moment sooner." Elijah continued. "There is no grey area. And while she may be able to leave Shelby's house and do as she pleases because it's not technically illegal to runaway, the rest of us can be charged with aiding and abetting a runaway. Each. Of. Us." He emphasized pointing to every legal adult in the living room to include Lauren and himself and the room fell silent as the thought set in. "I made a call that bought us some time but we need to all get on the same page very quickly."

"Who did you call?" Rachel asked, confused. "I didn't think you had those types of connections."

"I don't, Rachel. But I know someone who does and who also happens to have everyone's best interest at heart." He explained before calming slightly and adjusting his glasses out of habit. "Russell Fabray. He still has friends in town and was able to pull some strings. But if Shelby decides to move forward with this, there isn't much anyone can do except burry the paperwork and possibly ride it out until Beth turns 18."

"Oh my God. You know what? No." Beth stepped back from the group. "This is stupid. I'm not- we're not going to do this."

"Beth," Rachel deflated. "She's not going to change her mind. She's going to insist you go home and probably won't let you even go back to New York with us next week at this point."

"I know." Beth's voice was soft, calm, and clearly an attempt to hide her pain. "Out of everyone in this house, you all seem to forget that I know Shelby Corcoran better than anyone. That's why I'm going back." The teenager bent down to grab her bag.

Everyone in the room shifted, readying their objections but they fell on deaf ears.

"If I go back tonight she might calm down and this all will settle before New York becomes an issue. And if not... It's not too long until I turn 18. The day I do, I will walk myself to the airport and get on a plane back to the city and I won't look back. Before you leave though, I would like to say proper goodbyes. To you both and the boys and Madeline."

Quinn opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. She couldn't think of anything to say. She couldn't think of a way to fix this or some sort of plea to Shelby. It wouldn't work. The woman didn't care what damage was done to anyone else at this point. She wanted to win, and would see it through. So instead, she hooked her fingers behind her daughter's head and pulled her into a comforting embrace, hoping it would tell her all of the things she wanted to say. That she was sorry. Sorry Shelby was being this way. Sorry for having chosen to give her to the narcissist of a woman. Sorry that she was failing her and couldn't do anything to help. "I don't want you to have to do this."

She could feel Beth smile quickly and then it fall before the teenager pulled back. "Me either. But... now... I think I might understand you a little better. It's my turn to make those decisions to protect the people I love. And Rachel, I've already learned that look of yours. Don't blame yourself."

The actress huffed a laugh and wiped away a tear that suddenly fell from her eye. "But I do. I pushed her too far. I was taking my anger out-"

"Nope." Beth shook her head and smiled as she left her mother's arms and wrapped the shorter woman in a comforting embrace. "She was going to do it regardless. She was probably just planing on waiting until closer to when you all were leaving."

"Still."

"Still nothing." Beth turned around and noticed Elijah had disappeared. That was fine. From what she had been told of him, he probably felt bad for being the voice of reason. But that just left Lauren. "If it's okay with you, I think you should still stay here tonight and we can talk tomorrow after I see how Shelby is. What do you think?"

Lauren waited as the two older women left the room, giving them privacy and time for her to process the, once again, sudden and unexpected change. The barista lifted her hands and cupped her girlfriends face in her hands, pulling her into a gentle kiss. "I think I agree, even though I don't want to."

Inhaling deeply, the teenager soaked in the young woman's comforting scent. "Is it weird that I haven't even left and I already miss you?"

Lauren's hands moved further back, draping over her girlfriend's shoulders and she met her in another kiss, lingering in the connection this time. "It's not weird. It's adorable. But... text me. Or call me. I'm still trying to wrap my head around everything that's going on, but I want to be there for you... however it is you need me."

Beth smirked. "What I need is a distraction. You're sure you're okay staying here?"

Lauren nodded more assuringly this time. "Yeah. I mean, this place kind of reminds me of home. This... is a family."

Beth mashed her lips and looked toward the door. Shelby was still family. Still her mom. She still loved the woman but it didn't feel quite right anymore. "Okay. Then... I will text you when I get in the door and settled."

-/-/-/-/-/-

Shelby was still steaming from Puck's supposed dismissal of her wants when she heard the front door open and close. She quickly shot out of bed and nearly ran to the top of the stairs, arriving just as Beth climbed the first step. "Well, I'm glad you have all come to your senses."

The blonde didn't answer. Not even looking up, Beth kept climbing one step and then another until she could go no further. Shelby stood at the top of the stairs, firmly in her way. Beth took a deep breath in and held it, swallowing down her emotions before turning around and walking back down the stairs.

Her mother watched as she took a hard left turn and vanished into the living room. Her bag hit the floor with a loud thud and the lamp clicked off.

Cautiously Shelby made her way down the stairs to find her daughter laying on the sofa, her back to her. In the darkness she could see Beth reach up and pull the blanket off of the back of the couch and drape over herself. She wasn't going to fight. She wasn't going to argue.

"Look, I know you're mad at me. I know you think I'm some heartless woman, but I'm not." She called out into the dark. "I love you."

"Love you too, Mom."

Shelby's heart thudded harshly in her chest at the small sound of her daughter's voice. She hadn't expected Beth to return the affection. She expected silence, or anger, or some contrary or argumentative comeback. "Beth..." The older woman stepped into the room further and turned the lamp back on, illuminating the room, but Beth didn't roll over to face her. "Look," she continued in a soft, almost calm tone. "I... I want to talk about everything that's happened these last few days."

The teenager didn't respond and remained motionless but she listened.

After some time of silence, Shelby continued, sitting on the armrest of the chair. "I..." She stumbled. "I haven't handled them well."

Beth turned her head just slightly, unable to hide her interest that was suddenly growing. Shelby noticed and mashed her lips.

"I feel like things have spiraled out of control and neither of us can manage to get on the same page at the same time with the right attitude." She paused, waiting for her daughter to react as expected, but there was still nothing. "I know I have reacted poorly. Overreacted at other times. I hope you can judge your own attitude and reactions fairly as well."

Beth could feel her anger rising in her instantly. She felt baited, and now sucked in to listening to how it was also her fault.

"I want us to be on the same page. I want you to understand-"

"I understand." The interruption caught Shelby off guard. Mostly due to the calm and assured tone. "I understand that you feel like you can't control me anymore. But... I don't see that as a bad thing." Shelby tilted her head, listening intently as her daughter sat up and turned, still not facing the older woman. "You're my mother. You're not supposed to control me. You're supposed to guide me. You're supposed to... give me a safe and supportive place where I can build who it is I want to be... and love and accept me for it."

"Beth, I'm trying."

"Tried." Beth corrected her. "For two days. And then when it was too difficult for you to believe me over an old and highly inappropriate fling, you treated me like I didn't even exist... and wrapped it in this facade of false independence."

"I just admitted I handled it poorly. But you lecturing me on it isn't helping either."

"Lect-" Beth cut herself off and swallowed her anger. Same old same old. "I have opinions. Just because you don't like them, doesn't mean they are out of line."

"I never said they were." Beth bit back her argument. It wouldn't change anything. "I want to fix this. I don't want to be angry with you and I don't want you to be angry with me. I'm already losing you to Quinn and Rachel as it is. I would like to be able to hold on to at least some of your affection when you leave me behind."

Beth laughed to herself before laying back down, turning her back sharply as she did. "Then start by not trying to emotionally manipulate me with guilt and passive aggressive comments. Goodnight, Mom. Please turn out the light when you leave."

-/-/-/-/-/-

No one could really sleep. Quinn had given up even trying, so while Rachel laid in bed binge watching shows that had been on her to watch list for some time, the blonde made her way quietly down stairs.

As she reached the bottom she could hear the clicking of a phone's keyboard and poked her head into the living room. Lauren was sitting up on the couch typing away, clearly unable to sleep herself.

"You too, huh?"

The barista looked up and smiled weakly before setting her phone down. "Yeah. Was just texting with my mom. I know it's late but apparently... she doesn't care. She's interested in understanding everything that's going on."

Quinn stepped further into the room opening before jerking her head towards the kitchen, asking Lauren to follow so they could continue their conversation. "This really isn't the norm for us. Little dramas pop up here and there but this... this is an extreme. Do you want to go back sooner? I can get you a flight or-"

"No, no." Lauren waved her hand in dismissal as they entered the kitchen and she leaned against the counter. She had never grown so comfortable so quickly than she had at the Berry house. She liked these people. They were good people. She could see why Beth was so attached to them. "I mean, I will talk it over with Beth tomorrow and see what she recommends. I can always get a hotel if-"

"No." This time it was Quinn's turn to wave the notion off. "If you would prefer a hotel to the sofa, we will pay for it. But you are more than welcome to stay here for the remainder of your time and head back with us still."

The barista mashed her lips between her teeth but still somehow managed a smile. "Thank you."

"Of course." Quinn turned and pulled the bottle of wine out of the fridge before reaching for a glass from the cabinet. She paused, turned, and looked at Lauren with a bit of a smirk as she waited.

Slowly an understanding spread over Lauren and a grin spread over her face. "You know, I did just discover I do like wine."

The blonde chuckled devilishly and grabbed another glass from the cabinet and joined Lauren on the counter, pouring them each a glass. Lauren's was notably a smaller glass, but there was still enough to count. "Just don't tell Rachel. Or Elijah. Or even Beth for that matter."

"We are just getting to know each other and you're already making me keep secrets." She teased, taking a sip. This wine was better than the one Beth had managed to get. Lauren figured it was probably more expensive.

"You can tell Kevin." Quinn jibed back. "So it's not really a secret."

"I'm just surprised that you're encouraging me to keep things from your daughter."

Quinn's brow raised, conceding the point. "Then again, I'm sure you two drink way more than I know about."

Lauren set her glass down and shook her head. "That's an area we will always differ on. But, um, I didn't think about it until after I said it. But calling Beth your daughter... that's okay?"

"Huh? Yeah. I-we have been using terms fairly loosely." Quinn confessed, still uncertain of a few grey areas in their relationship. "I think she's trying to find what's most comfortable for her. For me, she calls me Quinn mostly. But refers to me as her mom to others. I refer to her as my daughter."

Lauren nodded in acceptance. She had decided already that she was glad her mother was going to meet Quinn and Rachel first. Any drama in their lives seemed to live firmly in the past and they enjoyed the fact it stayed there. This was easy and relaxing. Just like it had been previously.

Before the brunette could continue the conversation, Rachel entered the room, stopped, and shifted her judgmental gaze between the pair holding wine glasses to their lips, frozen in shock of her entrance. "You know what... after today... I don't care. As long as I get some too."

Quinn was quick to hand Rachel the glass from her hand and retreated to the cupboard to get another for herself. "Today has been rather emotionally exciting, hasn't it? The last time I was this emotionally stressed was when you told me to come home because one of the boys was having an emergency surgery."

"The time before that... probably the time you were pregnant and nearly burned down the apartment." Rachel added, suddenly losing herself in the memory. It took her a moment to notice Quinn's confused expression. "I freaked out. You didn't see it though. It was probably the first time I realized what it meant to possibly lose you."

Lauren frowned adoringly at the sad but loving story while Quinn walked across the kitchen and wrapped her wife in her arms. "I don't plan on going anywhere."

"Doesn't mean you won't." Rachel quickly pushed the conversation to the side. "But we don't need to talk about those things. We need happy thoughts. We all need happy thoughts, don't you think?"

The happy thoughts carried her through the night but Rachel stumbled her way into the kitchen the next morning, blinded by sleep and grasped hold of the countertop for balance.

Smiling in adoration, Quinn stood with her back to the brunette, watching the coffee slowly fill her cup. "Good morning."

Arching an eyebrow to force one eye open the slightest bit more, Rachel groaned. "Good morning. What are you doing up so early?"

The blonde's smile deepened as she felt Rachel's arms snakes around her torso and pull herself as close as she could manage. "I never actually slept. Maybe a little nap in there, but no real sleep."

"Oh. Okay." Rachel had nothing else to say. She just turned her face and snuggled into her wife's back, completely content. This was golden. The kids were still asleep. And even if they weren't, there were two other adults eagerly waiting to interact with the kids and take full responsibility for them.

"Did you want some?" Quinn asked, looking over her shoulder as best she could without disturbing her slightly swaying wife. She was fairly certain if Rachel didn't have any soon, she was going to sway herself back to sleep.

"Mmmmmm... I better." Rachel pushed herself off her wife, twisting the blonde slightly and stealing her cup from her hands. "Thanks."

"There's milk in it."

The actress stopped abruptly and frowned, blindly handing the cup back to her wife. "At least you told me this time."

Quinn laughed to herself before returning her attention to her coffee and Rachel began composing her own. "You gave me time this time."

"Whatever."

"Moooo-"

"Quinn Fabray." Rachel playfully yet forcefully slapped the now laughing blonde's arm. "It wasn't funny back then and it isn't funny now."

"Then why am I laughing?"

Rachel scoffed and moved away with her own cup of coffee, sending a teasing glare to her wife and mumbling into her mug. "It's still not funny."

The morning at the Corcoran house was the exact opposite of the Berry residence. The hustle and noise of five adults and three kids cramming in around a table meant for only six, all passing food and each taking turns helping the children either eat or stopping potential food fights, with everyone smiling contrasted harshly from Beth and Shelby who sat across from each other in silence. The teenager avoided any eye contact that would encourage conversation but it was inevitable.

"So are you giving me the silent treatment this morning too?" Shelby asked, setting her form down and bracing for an argument but Beth simply shook her head.

"No."

"So, you're just not going to talk to me?"

Beth met her mothers eyes confidently and held them. "I don't have much else to say. I feel it's all been said."

She didn't know if it was Beth's passive tone, or her defeated attitude when it came to their situation, but it unnerved Shelby. "So, how are you expecting this to play out?"

The teenager took her time as she chewed and swallowed her food, even taking a drink of her milk before answering, knowing each passing second was pushing the woman to her breaking point. She knew it wasn't necessarily in her best interest to do so, but she couldn't help it. "We both know that's not up to me. You wanted me to come home, so I'm home. The rest is in your hands." It was true. This was the last bit of control Shelby had over her daughter and Beth was letting her take it. She knew the only thing to come out of fighting it would just be more stress and drama and she had honestly had her fill. Two months and she would be 18. She could do two months.

"I don't think I've ever seen you be so indifferent to someone's feelings before." Shelby admitted in mild horror before noticing a tweak of her daughter's eyebrow and knowing exactly what it meant. Beth learned it from somewhere. "Of course, blame me. I'm the cause of all your problems. I'm a horrible mother who has never done anything right by you. Is that what you want me to say?"

"No." Beth answered flatly. "I don't believe that to be true at all. I even told you since I've been back that I'm very appreciative of everything you've done for me. What I would like is for you to stop trying to make me feel bad." Shelby picked up her fork roughly and began eating again. "And what I really want... is to know if it is even possible for you to find a middle ground between you trying to control and manipulate me into doing what you expect me to do and you completely abandoning me emotionally like you did these last two days. I want... to know you're not just going to walk away when I don't fit your reality like you want me to."

"Clearly you've been talking to Rachel." Shelby arched her brow but her tone was mocking and disapproving.

Beth couldn't help but roll her eyes in response. "She has been supportive and has given me some insight. Which I appreciate because I have realized it all boils down to one thing. Your choice. Not mine."

Shelby didn't respond. She didn't know how. Beth was right but admitting that aloud would not only confirm all the negative aspects of her personality, but would also force her to make a decision. She would have to make her choice. "So, what are your plans today?"

Beth stopped eating and looked up with a dropped brow. Shelby's attempt at changing the subject wasn't even discreet. There was no lead in. No false 'memory' sparked to bring up the topic. Just a blatant disregard for the current topic leaving the teenager shaking her head and playing the game. "I'm meeting up with Lauren and deciding if she's going to stay in Lima or head back to New York. And that primarily depends on wether or not you are allowing me to return with the Fabray's."

Beth wasn't dumb and her word choice was intentional. Names would only spark the jealousy in her mother, setting her off on another tantrum. "And you want me to decide that today? After your recent behavior?"

The teenager didn't respond right away, debating if it was worth it. "I didn't fight. Puck exaggerated. I came home even though you told me I could spend my last few days here however I wanted. So, what behavior are you talking about specifically?"

Backed into a corner, Shelby felt the pressure. "Fine. Do what you want. You can go to New York if it makes you happy. I don't care anymore."

Reclining back slighting in her chair, Beth watch calmly as Shelby gathered her plate and cup and darted out of the room. There was no middle ground to be had. "Can I get that in writing so you can't have the Fabray's arrested for kidnapping?" She called out while never removing her eyes from her mother's empty chair.

She was tired of this. Back and forth. Same argument. Same non-solution. Same mental and emotional manipulation. Same tactics of ignoring and reflecting. It wasn't going to change. Beth had told herself last night that she wasn't going to engage and would just pretend like nothing had even happened. She would give her mother that surface relationship that she was looking for. That easy, comfortable milk and cookies relationship. But it turns out that everyone was right. She was far too genuine and self aware for that anymore.

"Here." Shelby broke Beth from her intellectual rabbit hole and placed a half torn piece of paper down in front of her with a scribbled note and her signature. "There's you're permission."

Beth was frozen as she looked the paper over. Reading and rereading it. There was her freedom.

-/-/-/-/-/-

"Headed out to see Beth?" Rachel asked as she slowly made her way towards Lauren who emerged from the house. Madeline firmly on the actress hip gave the barista a shy smile and hid her face when the taller brunette cooed back at her and waved.

"I was, but she texted to say she was on her way over here instead. I've learned the joys of a small town these last few days though." Lauren mused, taking a seat along with Rachel while Quinn played soccer with the boys in the grass. "When someone says they will be right over, they mean it. Five minutes tops. In the city... unless you live on the same block... not happening." She had learned more than that but she was attempting to overshadow all the negative with the few positives she could find, but in all reality, she was ready to go back to New York. She was ready for all of their lives to simplify a bit more.

The brunette laughed lightly. "Home sick yet?"

She didn't answer immediately, but instead, watched the blonde and the boys for a moment. "Sort of. I'm eager for my mother to meet you guys. To... have someone in my family know. Eager to see how my mother is going to handle my father."

"Well, your mom sounds like a good woman who loves you very much."

Lauren nodded absently, still watching as the trio played, and barely held back a laugh as Quinn was cut off by Gabe making a move for the ball and nearly fell. Quinn's loud laughter filled the air, even pulling Rachel's attention away from the barista for a moment. "She is. And she does. I... I wish Beth had the same. Shelby has somehow managed to be everything I feared her being, and nothing like I expected at the same time."

Rachel's eyebrow tweaked. "A wolf in sheep's clothing. But she did well by Beth in most things."

"I wonder about that." Lauren lost herself deeper and deeper into thought, oblivious to Rachel watching her. The actress studied her, following her line of sight over to her wife and then back. "Do you think Quinn will try and step into the role?"

Rachel pondered the idea. "Do you think she should?"

The question was unexpected and pulled Lauren's attention back to the older brunette. "I do. From what Beth has said... and not said... I think Shelby has left a little bit of an emotional void for a few years now and Beth has seen how Quinn is with your kids. I personally don't think that Shelby fits what Beth wants as a family."

"That's a rather bold statement." Both women turned quickly as Beth exited the house and walked to them. It was bold but true and the pain that realization caused was in Beth's eyes for just a moment before she smiled widely and held out her hand.

"What's this?" The actress asked, taking it.

"Basically... my freedom. It was a smart-ass comment come to fruition, but I'm hanging on to it." Beth explained as Rachel looked at the paper. "Proof that she's giving permission for me to return to New York so she can't accuse you of kidnapping. I mean, I never thought it would actually come down to needing something like this."

"Hence the smart-ass comment aspect." Lauren added absently, still very unease around the dynamic Shelby added to their lives and Beth's quick dismissal of her emotions from just a moment ago.

Beth nodded in agreement. "I have yet to actually process everything that has happened since I came back, and I think I'm going to keep it that way for awhile. I don't want to actually understand the importance and absurdity of that piece of paper until I am in New York, in my bed... at home... with family.

Rachel continued reading the brief, hastily written and messy note over and over but reached out blindly to run a comforting hand down Beth's arm.

"Part of me wants to just go back now so she can't change her mind." Beth confesses, looking square at her birth mother as she approached, leaving the boys to fight over the ball.

The actress' eyes instantly met her wife's and they exchanged looks of hesitant agreement and Quinn mashed her lips, keeping her words firmly behind them.

The quartet fell into an awkward silence, causing the younger two to share quick glances of uncertainty. "Until we do leave..." Beth began, playfully tapping Rachel on the shoulder. The actress was distracted, studying her wife's face, wondering what was going on beyond those hazel eyes that appeared to avoid focus on anything physical around them. "Kevin mentioned the other day that you may or may not have a stash of old pictures and videos from high school kicking around here... any chance I would be able to..."

Rachel forced a smile and nodded. "But don't think for a second that they are mine. I mean, they are, but they are his own private collection he tries to deny existing. He doesn't want to be seen as 'that' dad. Come on. I'll see if I can help you find them." Rachel stood up and finally let her wife out of her locked gaze.

It didn't take Rachel long to find the boxes of seemingly endless photos, SD cards and DVDs stretching back her entire life. Seeing them all made her want to sit down with the girls and reminisce, but the nagging feeling in the pit of her stomach had her trudging back up the basement stairs to find Quinn.

"You're going over there, aren't you?" Rachel asked as she strolled knowingly down the hallway from the back of the house. Quinn was at the other end by the door, slowly gathering her keys and bag. "Don't you think we should just let this be?"

The blonde straightened, her emotions clearly on display. "This just... this isn't right."

"No. It's not." Rachel agreed, crossing her arms over her chest. "But that's because you still expect Shelby to be a reasonable person. This is where you and I have always had a disconnect."

"I..." the words faded as Quinn's hazel eyes looked up to the ceiling, trying to ward off the tears welling up and stinging with the depth of her emotions. "I just have to try. Once more. One more try to get Shelby to see how ridiculous this all is."

Rachel understood more than she was letting on. How many times had she tried with Shelby? How many times had she wondered if one little detail, one slightly longer glance that Shelby had given her, meant that something had changed? "I know you well enough..." Rachel began, taking small steps forward, "to know that you won't let this go until you try again. But..." She took a deep breath in, lifting her hands to cup her wife's face, forcing their eyes to meet. "This needs to be the last time. Let it go after this to work out however it is meant to work out. Let it go for your sake, for Beth's, and for my own. None of us can heal if the wounds are constantly being reopened."

Quinn inhaled sharply. She had been so caught up in how she felt, her guilt and heart break, as well as Beth's emotional struggles, that she hadn't realized until now that she had pushed Rachel's emotions to the side. She opened her mouth to spew her endless apologies but Rachel stopped her, placing a gentle index finger to her lips, moving it only to replace it with her lips and a light kiss before lower down off her toes.

"Don't. I also know you well enough... and I've told you before, I will never doubt the depth of your love for me. Just... let it go after this. Please?"

A stray tear fell from Quinn's eye and she nodded, cupping her wife's face with one hand and dragging her thumb along her cheek. "I will. I promise."

-/-/-/-/-/-

"Oh, God." Shelby scoffed as she opened the front door to find Quinn standing on her front stoop. "I don't understand you people. I gave you everything you wanted and yet, here you are."

The photographer hesitated only briefly before following the woman as she walked away, leaving the door open. Quinn stepped inside and shut the door. "I just-"

"Just what? What is it you are just wanting to do? I have heard it all from Beth and from your wife, so what else is there?" Caught off guard by the forcefulness and certainty of Shelby's statements, Quinn didn't respond. She just watched as Shelby cleaned off some school papers covering the table. "Am I a horrible mother this time? Or just one who is confused and not understanding? Am I too harsh with too high of expectations? Or am I some cold and manipulative bitch?"

"Whoa." Quinn held up her hands in innocence.

"No. No. There is no 'whoa' from you. I have spent more than a week being told how horrible of a mother I am and I am sick and tired of it. I raised that kid. She is smart and funny and well rounded because of me. Not you. Not Rachel. Not Noah. Me. I did that."

"Shelby, I-"

"And now you're taking her. You gave her to me, I did all the work, and now you're taking her from me."

"Me having a relationship with Beth isn't the same as me taking her away from you. She's always been very clear about your role in her life." Quinn argued back, her sympathy for the woman fading to anger. It was always about Shelby. "You and your actions are pushing her away. Everyone sees it. You even see it. But instead of trying to fix it, you're making it worse, forcing Beth to walk away from you that way you have someone else to blame! But, damn it, Shelby. She doesn't have to walk away. You don't have to lose her. Just... be there for her in the way she needs you right now. Not how she used to. Not how she might in the future. Right now. Be the mother she needs right now."

Shelby's softening posture tensed back up. "What would you know about being a mother? What do you know about being there for someone? You gave her up. You didn't even want her!"

Quinn straightened. "I am a mother. Of four." The room fell to silence though both women were sure they could hear each other's hearts beating. Maybe it was just the pounding in their ears from their emotions. Maybe it wasn't. It didn't matter. "You know what... I'm leaving. I only stopped by to try and help salvage your relationship with Beth but I don't even know why I should anymore. You aren't the same woman I gave my baby to."

"That's the thing, Quinn." Shelby mused in almost a whisper and a smirk. "I am exactly the same woman. I am a woman who knows what she wants and can't settle for even an ounce less. I have never done anything halfway. No compromises. No middle ground. You knew that when I adopted Beth. You knew who I was. You married my daughter and comforted her through her acceptance of who I am but for some reason still have it in your head that I would suddenly be some other person when raising your daughter." Shelby slowly walked over and opened up the front door, waiting Quinn to leave. "So, that's on you. If you want her raised differently... then do it."