You Can Always Come Home

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

"Ava, come here sweetie."

Quinn and Puck had been outside with Ava all day, enjoying the warm summer day and playing in the sprinkler. Ava had been nonstop, running back and forth through the water as she giggled and screamed. The two parents were now exhausted, sitting on the front porch swing and resting. Things were going perfectly, from her and Puck's growing relationship to landing a job as a secretary at McKinley, Quinn finally had it all and was ready to tell Ava everything.

The little girl came running to them, soaking from head to toe and laughing as she bounced into their laps.

"Whatcha doing?" she asked while playing with Quinn's hair.

"Well, there's something I want to talk to you about," Quinn said while cradling the little girl in her arms.

"Is this about the carpet?" Ava asked growing serious.

"No...wait, what about the carpet?" Puck asked.

"...never mind, whatcha wanna talk about?" Quinn breathed in deeply, having rehearsed this speech a thousand times and yet still being nervous.

"Ava, have you ever noticed how much we look alike?" Quinn asked softly. The little girl looked up and smiled, nodding her head and sitting up.

"Of course Quinnie!" she exclaimed while tugging on a strand of Quinn's hair, "you're just like me only bigger!"

"Well sweetheart, there's a reason," she said gently, "I'm your mom Ava." Ava furrowed her brow, studying Quinn as if to see if she was lying.

"No you're not!" she finally laughed, brushing her little hand at Quinn.

"No sweetie, I am," Quinn said slowly, "I promise, I wouldn't lie to you, I'm your mama." Ava looked at Puck, flashing him a confused face.

"Its true doll, she carried you in here for nine months," he said while rubbing Quinn's stomach.

"I don't understand," she said softly, "then why were you in California?" Quinn felt herself stiffen, completely forgetting all the answers she had prepared.

"I uh,...I honestly don't know," Quinn answered. She pulled Ava closer, staring her in her eyes and trying to find an answer.

"Ava when you were born, your dad and I were really, really young," she began, her voice trembling, "We were still in school and we didn't know anything about being grown ups or what to do with little girls." Ava just stared at Quinn, listening intently while playing with her toes.

"And we loved you, God Ava we loved you so much," Quinn said as tears filled her eyes," but we knew we couldn't give you all the things that you deserved. So-so we decided to find you a mommy that could give you all those things and would take really good care of you." Ava looked to her dad again, Quinn noticing for the first time that Puck was wiping his eyes.

"Ava it was the hardest thing we had to do," Puck said lowly, "and I missed you so much that when I finally finished school, I came right back and took you home with me."

"And that's when you went to California?" Ava asked softly. Quinn tried to answer but she choked on her tears, unable to answer.

"Mommy was really sad sweetie," Puck spoke up, answering for Quinn, "she was sad that she had to let you go and she needed to get better so she could come back and be the best mom for you." Ava reached up and wiped a tear from under Quinn's eye with her little hand, leaning forward and kissing her cheek.

"Quinnie, do you feel better?"

"Yes," Quinn laughed, "I've never been happier and its all because of you." Ava smiled standing up in Quinn's lap while holding her hands.

"So does this mean I can call you mommy now?" she asked excitedly.

"Well of course," Quinn answered, "you can call me that as often as you like."

"Yes!" she shouted as she squirmed out of Quinn's lap and tugged her towards the yard, "then come on Qui-mommy, I wanna go back in the sprinkler." Quinn's heart melted as she called her that, and she felt the final weight in her life lift.

Quinn heard a ring coming from the other side of the room, groaning when she realized it was the house phone. She felt Puck move to answer it, cursing under his breath as he picked up the receiver.

"'Hello," he said gruffly, placing his hand on Quinn to make sure she was still asleep. She heard someone chattering away on the other end and she wondered who the hell would call be calling at such an hour.

"Alright! Alright, we're on our way!" Puck said happily, surprising Quinn with his tone. He flicked his side table light on and turned to Quinn smiling.

"Are you ready to be an aunt?"

Ava slept peacefully on Quinn's chest as they sat in the waiting room. They had been in to visit Rachel for a bit, finding her breathing hard and squeezing anything she could find. She had decided to do a natural birth and Quinn could tell she was ready to change her mind. Finn had become a complete mess, excited and bubbling one minute then shifting to completely terrified and scared the next. Puck had enjoyed watching the father to be, laughing at his friend and patting him on the back.

"Lets call it right now," Puck said as returned from the snack room with coffee, "I'm thinking it's a boy."

"See, I disagree," Quinn whispered sipping her from her cup, "I think it's a girl."

"Alright," Puck said sticking his hand out, "it's a bet." They continued sitting there, laughing about Finn trying to raise a newborn, when they heard a commotion at the door.

"IT'S A GIRL!" Finn screamed, his arms in the air and his face lit up.

"Alright man, congratulations!," Puck said giving him a hug. Finn leaned down to Quinn and hugged her, gently patting Ava on the back.

"How is she, and how is Rachel doing?" Quinn asked.

"Fine, both, completely fine and healthy and beautiful!" Quinn had never seen him so happy, cheering and laughing as he gushed about his little girl.

"They're getting Rachel settled and everything, so give us a minute and I'll come get you to visit," he said to Puck, waving goodbye and heading back to the room.

"That's great," Puck said smiling, taking his seat. Quinn looked over and shook her head, sticking out her hand and motioning for Puck.

"You so lost, pay up."

Quinn gently laid Ava down in her bed, pulling the blanket up and kissing her goodnight.

They had finally been able to visit Rachel and their new baby, Aurora Elizabeth Hudson. Ava had of course suggested the name, but Rachel had actually fallen in love with it and it had stuck ever since. They all cooed over the tiny girl while gently passing her back and forth, even helping little Ava hold her, comparing which parent she looked like most. While Ava had loved meeting her new playmate, she had soon grown cranky and wanted to go back to bed, pouting in Puck's arms and getting restless. Quinn volunteered to take her home while Puck opted to stay at the hospital.

Puck's mom had agreed to come over later and watch Ava while Quinn went back to the hospital, so Quinn was now patiently waiting for her to show. She made her way downstairs and prayed they still had coffee, hearing her knock on the door.

"Come on in," she called, heading into the kitchen and grabbing her coffe pot.

"I can't thank you enough, I know its early but-" the coffe pot in Quinn's hand smashed as it hit the floor, shattering into a thousand peices and spraying everywhere. Quinn choked on the words in her mouth, finding herself unable to breathe. She was completely paralyzed, trying to will herself to move but finding it impossible. Her blood had turned to ice and her heart had stopped abruptly. She felt her whole body tremble as she stood there in shock, trying to scream but nothing escaping but air.

"Honey," Jesse said sweetly as he made his way to her, "I'm home."