Ryley's Child

The in Between

**•**Marley's POV**•**

I have such mixed emotions to know that I am a mother! I have a son, a very handsome son, who is all mine and all Ryder's. Being new to the mother business I didn't know what to expect. Mom talked me through a little bit, but she's been a single mom my whole life. I also talked with my mother and father-in-law too. All three were a big help to me. I also invited Rachel, Mercedes, Kurt, and Emma to come visit sometime so that they could give me tips and suggestions. Rachel and Mercedes both got plane tickets as soon as they could and came up two weeks after I had Andrew. Emma is pregnant with twins so she decided to stay in Ohio. Kurt also agreed to come as soon as he was finished with his RENT rehearsal.

Rachel and Peter were the first to arrive with their ten month old daughter, Barbara. As soon as they came Ryder and Peter got into a conversation about politics (I wasn't going to even try to understand what they were saying) and Rachel and I swapped babies.

Barbara was a petite little girl with fine dark hair like her mother. Her deep brown eyes searched mine with such depth that I felt like she was picking apart all my thoughts. She was beautiful though and seemed to take in every little detail of every little thing within her field of vision.

Rachel cradled my newborn son in her arms and gently traced the outline of his face. "He's gorgeous, Marley!" she exclaimed. "He's got your brown waves."

I smiled, "Yes, he does." I shifted Barbara so that she was sitting up in my arms. "I think Barbara is going to look a lot like you, Rachel."

Rachel laughed. "I suppose you're right."

"Do you want to sit down?" I suggested. "I'll take Barbara with me to the kitchen and set her on the rug while I check the cookies I have baking."

Rachel nodded and went into our living room, bouncing Andrew lightly in her arms.

Not three minutes later another knock came on the door. "I'll get it!" I heard Ryder call. From the kitchen I could hear the deep voice of Blaine, the more high pitched chatter that was Kurt, and Leia wining about leaving her teddy bear at home.

I opened the oven and a chocolatey, baked good aroma filled my senses. The cookies were ready. As soon as I had them out and on top of the stove to cool I made my way out to the front door.

Blaine had Leia propped on a hip while he laughed about something with Ryder. Leia's eyes were red rimmed and I caught her wiping her nose on her father's knit sweater vest. She stared at me bashfully. I winked. Her nose wiping was our little secret, just the two of us. Blaine would never know.

Kurt saw me first and ran over to hug me. "Hey, Marley!" he said as he half hugged me and half hugged Barbara. "Long time no see." he joked. Then he looked to Barbara. "Is this Miss Mitchell?" He addressed her. Barbara just drooled and pulled at my fingers.

"Yes, sir." I answered for her. "This is Miss Barbara Mitchell, daughter of-"

"OH MY GOD, KURT!!!!" I was interrupted by a shout from my right. Rachel Formally-Berry strode out of the living room still holding my sleeping son.

"RACHEL!!!!" Kurt cried almost as loud. Both smiled like fools at the sight of their best friend.

Rachel motioned with her head to Andrew. "I would hug you, but I have a newborn in my arms."

"Here I'll take Barbara." Peter offered. "Then Marley can have her baby back." We made the exchange.

As soon as Rachel's arms were free she ran at Kurt and they flung their arms around each other. "I've missed you something terrible." Kurt exclaimed. "You should've never left NYC this many years ago."