Fic: Of Rainbows and Raincoats (M, R/Q) II/II
Title: Of Rainbows and Raincoats
Author: an_an0maly
Rating: M - for mentions of nudity, I suppose.
Pairing: Rachel/Quinn
Words: 7,310
Spoilers: Up to what’s aired and there might be mentions of minor events in upcoming episodes.
Summary: Part 3 in the Romantic Ulterior Motives-verse in which Quinn tells her parents her big secret and the pregnancy hormones continue to make her emotional.
Disclaimer: Sadly, nothing Glee belongs to me.
Author’s Note: A little angsty... ok, way more angst then I had originally intended. But still fluffy too. And this verse has taken on a life of its own, it’s kind of scary.
A big big thanks to grdnofevrythng for the wonderful beta. She nit-picked and axed the smut (so you can blame her for that one) - kidding, and totally made this all better. Thanks for holding it hostage for weeks! ;)
Upstairs, Rachel led Quinn down the hall to her bedroom and into her bathroom. She sat Quinn down on the closed toilet lid before making her way to the bath and turning the taps. She waited for the water to turn hot before placing the plug into the drain. She reached for a purple bottle to the side of the tub and uncapped it. She poured quite a bit into the steady stream of water and watched as thousands of tiny bubbles began to form.
She recapped the bottle and put it back before returning to Quinn. Bending down in front of her, Rachel placed her hands on Quinn’s cold knees. Her right hand reached up to move some strands of hair that had fallen into her face. “We’re going to get into the bath, and you’re going to let me take care of you while you tell me what happened. Ok?” Rachel told her in a decisive but comforting tone.
Quinn just nodded her head in acceptance.
Rachel kept her position and contact with Quinn to make sure the girl knew she wasn’t abandoning her. She moved her right hand from Quinn’s hair to the side of her neck where she saw a red raw line of skin. Rachel suddenly realized that Quinn wasn’t wearing her cross. She tried to meet Quinn’s gaze to find out what happened, but Quinn refused to look her in the eye. Rachel looked down briefly before pushing herself up to make her way to the bathtub that was now half full.
She quickly checked the temperature before returning to Quinn and helping her stand up. “Come on, let’s get you warmed up.” She gently took the towel from around Quinn and laid it out on the vacant toilet lid. Holding her hand, Rachel helped Quinn into the bath tub. Once Quinn was seated in the warm water, Rachel sat on the tiled floor by Quinn’s head. She brushed Quinn’s hair back from her face again and with her thumb stroked her cheek.
“Will you tell me what happened?” Rachel asked softly, but loud enough that Quinn could hear her over the rush of the water from the taps still filling the tub.
Quinn reached out and grabbed Rachel’s arms and pulled her close, ignoring the splash of water that lapped the side of the tub. Quinn buried her head in Rachel’s neck. “Sit with me? Please?” She begged into Rachel’s neck.
Rachel nodded her head before gently pulling away from the blonde. She stood up and turned the taps off before she undressed, letting her clothes sit in a pile on the floor. She pushed them aside with her foot before she motioned for Quinn to lean forward so she could sit behind her.
As soon as Rachel lowered herself into the tub Quinn pulled Rachel’s arms around her, their fingers intertwining. “Thank you,” she whispered.
Rachel hugged her close, their joined hands resting on her baby bump. It was much more noticeable now. She let their hands slide over the bump a few times, her chin resting on Quinn’s shoulder. “Please tell me what happened,” she said softly.
Quinn was silent for a few minutes as she felt their hands on her belly. She felt a kick in her belly and heard Rachel gasp behind her.
“Did she just?” Rachel whispered completely amazed.
Quinn nodded her head. In a quiet voice she replied, “I started feeling her today. I think I felt her during Glee this afternoon, when you brushed past me, but I wasn’t sure.” She took a deep breath. “Then this afternoon I was in my room. I was working on my Spanish homework and I was thinking of calling you because I couldn’t figure out one of the verbs, when she kicked harder. I knew it was her this time and I had my hand on my belly when my Mom came in.”
Rachel tightened her hold on Quinn slightly, as if trying to fight off what was coming next.
“She freaked, naturally,” Quinn said followed by a loud sigh. “She started yelling about how she thought I was just getting fat and yelling all these questions at me and then my father came in and it got all kinds of crazy. They started talking about getting rid of it. Then I started yelling because they’re supposed to be against that, and they kept changing the rules. So, I told them it was too late anyway and I was going to keep her.”
Rachel untangled their fingers to lay her hand properly over Quinn’s belly, guarding it from outside harm.
“My mom was furious. She wanted to send me away. She began yelling at me again; asking me how I could sin like this, that this wasn’t what God wanted for me. And I asked her how she could know that. I told them that maybe this was God’s plan for me.” Quinn laid her hand over Rachel’s on her belly. “She didn’t like that one bit and Daddy began threatening Finn. I had to tell them it wasn’t Finn’s but I wouldn’t tell them whose it was because I knew Daddy would try to kill him. “
Rachel placed a kiss on her shoulder and kept her mouth there.
“My dad couldn’t look at me. He said he wanted to throw me out because that’s what I deserved for bringing such disgrace to the family. My mom talked him out of it, but only because they need to keep up appearances. She even used those words. She knows everyone will find out about the baby, but they can’t look like they threw me out. It wouldn’t look good with their friends.” Quinn closed her eyes and let the tears begin to fall. Her shoulders shook as she began to cry again.
Rachel held Quinn to her chest as she listened to the sobs. “It’s going to be okay,” Rachel promised. “Maybe not right away, but it will be. You’ll see.” Quinn nodded her head slightly, but at that moment, she didn’t think it could be okay.
A few minutes passed and Quinn’s tears slowed. Rachel continued to gently rub Quinn’s belly feeling slight movement beneath her hand. “She moves a lot,” she mused softly.
Quinn let a smile grace her lips, “I think it’s because she knows you’re here,” Quinn replied, her left hand gripping Rachel’s free hand and pulling it rest between her breasts. “At least, that’s what I like to think.”
“Are you going to be a little gold star, too?” Rachel cooed to Quinn’s belly. Quinn giggled and settled against Rachel.
“Are you going to tell me about your necklace?” Rachel asked bringing her right hand up to caress the side of Quinn’s neck.
Rachel felt Quinn tense in her arms. That was the first indication that things were worse than she was led to believe. “What happened?”
Quinn turned her head toward Rachel, burying her forehead into the crook of Rachel’s neck and shoulder. “After they stopped yelling, they made me stay in my room. Said they needed to discuss what to do with me.”
~~~
Quinn sat at her desk, her hands on her belly, her head down. “I promise I won’t let them do anything to you. I promise,” she whispered, tears falling onto her top. She heard the rumble of thunder and looked up out the window at the rain that began pouring down.
Quinn reached for the photo frame on her desk of the Glee kids. Rachel had gotten her a copy of the photo she had in her room. Quinn kept hers on her desk when she was studying but moved it to her bedside when she went to sleep. She brought the frame to her lap and ran a finger over Rachel’s face. She felt the baby move again and she grinned through her tears. Clearly the baby knew of Rachel.
“I miss you,” she whispered to the photo. She knew she should call Rachel but didn’t want to call her crying because then Rachel would want to come over and now was not a good time.
She jumped when she heard her mother bellowing for her from downstairs. She stroked Rachel’s face once more before placing the photo back on her desk. She pushed herself out of her chair and slowly made her way downstairs. She found her parents in her father’s office. Her mother was sitting on the leather couch, a glass filled with amber liquid in her hand while her father stood behind his desk, his back to her.
Quinn stood to the side of the doorway. She didn’t dare move any further into the room. She placed her hands on her belly to protect her little girl. Her mother caught the movement and Quinn saw her sneer at her belly.
“How many people know about this?” Her father asked, his head turned to the side, but still not looking at her.
Quinn swallowed before answering, “Everyone at school already knows.” She saw her mother take a gulp of the liquid in her glass. Her dad crossed his arms.
“Plan B it is,” her mother voiced and Quinn suddenly became worried. She took a slight step back and her eyes moved from her mother who couldn’t quite meet her stare to her father who still refused to look at her.
She was almost afraid to ask. “What... what’s Plan B?”
Finally her mother looked up at her with contempt. “You’re going to have the baby, but you aren’t keeping it. When you go into labor, there will be someone there to take the baby as soon as you give birth. We’ll pretend it’s a still birth and we can forget this whole thing ever happened.”
Quinn was horrified. “No! You can’t do that! This is my body and my baby. I won’t let you take her from me!”
“Quinn! Just listen to your mother for once!” Her father boomed as he finally turned to face her. “This is the best solution to this problem. We’re thinking of your future.”
Quinn could feel the tears pooling in her eyes. “My future? This isn’t about my future! All you can think about is what everyone will think of you!” Quinn shook her head and turned to leave.
“Do you really think anyone will be interested in you with a baby hanging off your arm?” Her mother replied in abhorrence. Quinn heard the stretching of the leather couch as her mother stood up.
Quinn and her mother had never really gotten along. Her mother was far too into appearances and high society - or whatever was equivalent in Lima - that she’d spent about 98% of Quinn’s childhood berating her, belittling her and moulding her into the perfect little spawn and the other 2% ignoring her. Quinn never could quite understand what she’d ever done to deserve her mother’s disappointment and disgust.
Quinn turned back to face her parents and met her mother’s steely gaze head on. “Is that what you’re really worried about? Marrying me off to some good Catholic boy? Ever thought that maybe that’s not what I want?”
Her mother took a step in her direction. “What you want has no place in this discussion. I’m your mother and I know what’s best for you. We’re going to get rid of that thing and everything will go back to normal. You’ll find a boyfriend, maybe get back together with Finn and it will be as it’s supposed to be.”
Quinn just looked her mother up and down with loathing. In her mind, she flashed back to that Sunday morning in the Berry kitchen where they had sat around the table and laughed and joked and talked about the baby and possible baby names. That was what she wanted for her daughter. For too long this family had lived off deceit and cover-ups just to look the part of the perfect family. Quinn was done with that. She let out a scoff of disbelief. “Do you really think I’m just going to forget I have a daughter out there? It’s not going to happen. And you’re wrong. There is someone who wants me and my baby.”
Her mother laughed at her as she crossed her arms, her grip visibly tightening on her glass. “And you think he’s going to get up with you for the 3am feedings? Change its diaper seven times a day?”
Quinn crossed her arms in battle and took a step forward. “You really think that diaper changes and feedings are what are important?” Quinn shook her head in disbelief. “What you haven’t learned, mother, is that she supports me in all my decisions. She is just as excited about this baby as I am and she just wants me to be happy. She encourages me every day. She believes in me and I’m not giving that up. Not for you, not for anybody.”
Her parents were stunned silent as she revealed her final secret. They stood staring at her. Her mother’s mouth wide open in shock, her dad looking on with a mixed expression of pride and uncertainty. Quinn decided to leave her parents with that final thought. She turned on her heel and began to exit her father’s office, head held high. She felt a hand painfully grip onto her arm and spin her around. Fingers clawed at her neck and with a yank, her skin burned and her necklace was ripped from her skin. She heard her father yell out her mother’s name.
“You’ve never been good enough to wear this.” Her mother said in a low and threatening tone.
Quinn looked past her mother to her father who had his hands braced on his desk, his head bowed. She looked back at her mother and with as much malice as she had left in her she replied, “If it makes me turn out like you, then I don’t want to wear it.” With that, she turned on her heel and as calmly as she could, grabbed her jacket off the hook by the front door and left.
~~~
When Quinn finished recounting the horror that was her evening, Rachel pulled Quinn’s lips to her own and gave her a long, lingering kiss. When they pulled apart, Rachel suggested they get out and get dressed for bed so they could have their hot chocolate.
Rachel wrapped a towel around herself before she helped Quinn out of the bath and soothingly dried her off with a second towel. She wrapped the towel around Quinn and led her back to her room where she found a t-shirt big enough to fit over Quinn’s growing belly. She also found her a pair of shorts to sleep in and helped her into them.
After she was dressed, Quinn sat on Rachel’s bed and watched as she got changed into her own night clothes. “Why do you take such good care of me?” She asked, her right hand slowly rubbing her belly.
Rachel finished pulling her pajama shorts on and carried her top with her as she made her way back to Quinn. She dropped to her knees in front of Quinn’s spread legs. She bent forward and kissed her belly before looking up. “Do you want the honest truth?” She asked in a soft voice.
Quinn looked down at her topless lover between her legs and nodded her head. She brought her hand up to caress the side of Rachel’s face. “Please?”
Rachel leaned her face into Quinn’s hand before kissing her palm. She looked up at Quinn and slightly shrugged her shoulders. “Because... well, because I love you.” Rachel quickly averted her gaze to Quinn’s belly where she leant forward and kissed it again.
Quinn felt tears well in her eyes again for the millionth time that night. “Really?” She asked before pulling Rachel toward her, their lips barely touching. Rachel nodded her head and then felt Quinn’s lips on her own. Quinn took control of the kiss and tried to put as much meaning into it as possible.
They were interrupted by a knock on the door. Quinn pulled away first.
“Just a second,” Rachel called out breathlessly as she pulled the top hanging by her side up and over her head. She gave Quinn a peck on the lips and then stood to let her dad in.
Quinn wiped a tear away from her cheek as Jacob looked at the two girls. “Hot chocolate is ready.” He gave Rachel a small smile and left the two girls to make his way downstairs.
“We’ll be right there,” Rachel replied to his retreating back. She held out a hand for Quinn to take. Quinn pulled herself up off the bed and grabbed onto Rachel’s outstretched hand. Instead of following, she tugged on the hand and pulled Rachel to her. “I love you, too.”
Rachel beamed at her before quickly kissing her on the lips and tugging her hand toward the staircase. “Come on, you’ll love Daddy’s hot chocolate.”
~~~
The four sat around the island in the kitchen. They each held a mug of steaming hot chocolate between their hands and a plate of mini marshmallows sat between the two couples.
Michael sat opposite Quinn and reached a hand out to one of hers. He placed his hand gently over her wrist in a comforting manner. “Do you want to tell us what happened? Maybe there’s something we can do to help?”
Quinn looked down at his hand on her arm. His hand was warm from the mug he’d been holding. She looked over at Rachel who smiled encouragingly at her. Quinn looked into Michael’s caring eyes.
“I told my parents about the baby.” She looked down at her hands clasping the mug before looking back up again. She took a deep breath. She’d already told the most important person in her life what had happened. She could do this. “They weren’t too happy, of course. My mom was furious and she wants me to get rid of it. I told her that I wanted to keep her, but my mother is convinced that I’ll just have the baby and then give her up. They want me to say it was a still birth so they can adopt her out.”
Jacob turned his head away from Quinn. He just couldn’t understand how any parent could do this to their child. His upbringing had been so completely different and he never quite understood how parents could be so cruel and unforgiving.
Michael stroked Quinn’s wrist in an encouraging manner. He wanted her to know that both he and Jacob were there for her, no matter what.
Quinn fought the hormones and held her tears back. “I told them that I wouldn’t go through with it because I wanted to keep my baby. My mother made some comment about no one wanting me with a baby on my arm and that if we did it her way, we could go back to normal.” Quinn paused because she didn’t know how they’d react to knowing she’d outed their daughter.
She met Michael’s gaze and in a hurried tone she tried to convince them of how apologetic she wa., “I’m so sorry. I told them about Rachel. I didn’t say her name. I promise. But they know and I’m so sorry. My mom ripped my cross off because she said I wasn’t good enough to wear it anymore. But I swear I didn’t tell them Rachel’s name.”
Michael let go of her wrist and leaned across the island to cup Quinn’s face in both his hands. He made sure to meet her eyes before he spoke. “Don’t ever apologise for who you are. Okay? Don’t ever be afraid to be who you are and don’t be afraid to tell people. If they can’t love you for whom you are, then it’s their loss. Alright?” He asked and pinned her with a pointed look. Quinn nodded her head and Michael leant even further over the island to kiss Quinn on the forehead. He let his thumbs caress her cheekbones before giving her a warm smile and sitting back in his seat, his hand back to holding her wrist in an encouraging manner.
“Did they,” Michael started before coughing to clear his throat, “Did they throw you out?” He asked carefully.
Quinn shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t really know. My dad wanted to throw me out when he found out about the baby but my mom convinced him otherwise. Then... well, then I told them about Rachel. It was kind of left hanging.” She looked up at Michael who held her gaze. “I’m not sure I have a home to go to anymore.” She bit her bottom lip to stop herself from crying, but she could feel the tension building in her throat.
Michael looked over at Jacob who nodded his head. Michael let go of Quinn’s wrist to stand and make his way around the island to her side. He pulled her into a hug and held her close. “We haven’t spoken to Rachel about it yet, but we do have a spare room that can be yours for as long as you need it. For you and the baby.” He felt Quinn begin to cry against his chest, her arms holding him tighter. “You don’t have to make a decision just yet, but the offer will always be there. Do you understand?” He asked as he rest his cheek on the top of her head.
He felt Quinn nod her head against him and watched as Jacob led Rachel to the stovetop to fill their mugs with the remaining hot chocolate. He heard Quinn mumble something against his chest and he pulled away slightly to hear her.
“Why are you being so nice to me? I’ve been so horrible to your daughter for years. Now, I’m pregnant and Rachel’s my only friend and we’re... well... we’re whatever we are and in the grand scheme of things I’m nobody.” Quinn asked between tears. She sucked in a breath as she felt Michael pull her tighter against him.
“You listen to me, Miss Fabray. You’re not a nobody. You’re Quinn Fabray, the hot cheerleader that asked permission to make out with my daughter. The same strong Quinn Fabray that stood up to her parents this evening. The Quinn Fabray that’s going to have a beautiful baby girl and the same Quinn Fabray that is finally learning what it’s like to live in the Berry Household. Whatever happens in the future, we’re always going to be here. You’ll always have a place here,” Michael said in a convincing tone.
“I love Rachel,” Quinn suddenly blurted out. She needed Rachel’s dad to understand that even with everything going on in her life, she really did love Rachel.
Michael laughed. “Oh honey, Jacob and I have known that from the second you first stepped through our front door.”
Quinn grinned through her tears and just hugged tighter.
~~~
“What has that little smile on your face?” Jacob asked Rachel as he watched his daughter pour some more hot chocolate into her mug.
Rachel couldn’t help the grin that came over her lips. “I know it’s been a horrible night for her, but, she told me she loves me.”
Jacob grinned and pulled her into a hug. “I’m really happy for you. And very proud of you, too.”
Rachel kissed her dad on the cheek. “Thank you.” She stared at him with a curious expression on her face for a few seconds. “How long were you and Daddy planning on offering the spare room to Quinn?”
Her Dad blushed, “Well you know your Daddy. He’s been planning from the moment she walked through the door. He thought this might happen and you know I’m not going to let anything happen to her either.”
Rachel hugged her dad close to her. “Thank you,” she whispered.
~~~
It had been decided that Quinn would stay with the Berry’s for the night. They made it clear that Quinn didn’t need to make a decision until she was sure she knew where she stood with her parents. The spare room would always be there until she claimed it. If she did decide to move in, then they’d all have to sit down together and decide on how the situation would work best for everyone.
Quinn and Rachel lay side by side in bed, facing each other. “How are you feeling?” Rachel asked as she placed her hand on Quinn’s protruding belly.
Quinn scooted closer to Rachel. “I feel a lot better than I did a few hours ago. Thank you,” she whispered as she leaned forward to kiss Rachel. The t-shirt she was wearing rubbed against her sensitive nipples and she hissed at the brief contact.
Rachel pulled away. “What’s wrong? Is it the baby?” Rachel questioned full of concern, she placed both her hands on Quinn’s belly, but then felt the baby kick.
Quinn blushed. “She’s fine, it’s... it’s embarrassing.” She replied looking down at her belly and Rachel’s hands.
Rachel cupped her chin and forced Quinn to look at her. “Please don’t be embarrassed around me.”
Quinn shifted and the shirt rubbed against her again and she winced in pain. “It’s just... I’m really sensitive and your shirt is... well it hurts.”
Rachel grinned at her. “You could always take the shirt off. I have no objections to your nudity.”
“Yeah, I bet you don’t,” Quinn replied as she rolled her eyes.
Rachel quickly sobered up. “Is there something I can get you? Maybe some moisturiser?”
Quinn shook her head. She didn’t think rubbing anything on her chest would be helpful. “Do you maybe have a singlet top I can borrow? It’ll mould better then letting the shirt rub against me.”
Rachel quickly removed herself from the bed and made her way to the chest of drawers next to the bathroom door. She located a long black singlet top that she thought would fit over the baby bump as well. “Here, you put this on while I find the present I got for the baby.” Rachel handed over the top before walking over to her desk and moving a few papers around to locate the present.
Quinn looked up at Rachel with surprise. “You bought the baby a present?” She asked softly. Quinn sat up in bed and began to change her top. She pulled the black top over her head and carefully situated it against her chest.
Rachel picked up a pile of papers and found the present. She pulled it out and replaced all the items she’d moved. “I didn’t get to wrap it. I hope that’s okay.” She picked up the present and brought it with her to the bed.
Quinn just stared at Rachel in amazement. “I can’t believe you got her a present. You didn’t have to, you know?”
Rachel slid between the sheets and handed over the present. “I wanted to.”
Quinn looked down at the gift in her hands. It was a book. One specifically designed for babies and small children, with its thick, cardboard pages and small size. “The Very Hungry Caterpillar?” She read in a soft voice, her index finger tracing the illustration on the front.
“She’s never too young to have books read to her. It was one of my favourites,” Rachel explained with a shrug of her shoulders. She tried to brush the gift off as an everyday occurrence.
Quinn gave her a watery smile before looking down at the cover again. She handed the book back to Rachel. “Will you read it to her?” She asked.
Rachel’s eyes lit up before quickly taking the book into her own hands. She urged Quinn to lie back so she could read to her belly. Rachel moved down the bed to rest her hand on Quinn’s baby bump. She placed the book on the mattress and opened it with her left hand. “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” she began. “In the light of the moon a little egg lay on a leaf.”
Quinn watched and listened as Rachel read her baby girl her very first story. Bringing her right hand down to the side of Rachel’s face, she brushed a few strands back behind Rachel’s ear before caressing her cheek. Rachel shot her a quick grin before returning to the pages of the book. Quinn let her head rest back against the pillow. She closed her eyes and placed her hands on top of Rachel’s on her belly.
“On Thursday he ate through four strawberries, but he was still hungry...”
Author: an_an0maly
Rating: M - for mentions of nudity, I suppose.
Pairing: Rachel/Quinn
Words: 7,310
Spoilers: Up to what’s aired and there might be mentions of minor events in upcoming episodes.
Summary: Part 3 in the Romantic Ulterior Motives-verse in which Quinn tells her parents her big secret and the pregnancy hormones continue to make her emotional.
Disclaimer: Sadly, nothing Glee belongs to me.
Author’s Note: A little angsty... ok, way more angst then I had originally intended. But still fluffy too. And this verse has taken on a life of its own, it’s kind of scary.
A big big thanks to grdnofevrythng for the wonderful beta. She nit-picked and axed the smut (so you can blame her for that one) - kidding, and totally made this all better. Thanks for holding it hostage for weeks! ;)
Upstairs, Rachel led Quinn down the hall to her bedroom and into her bathroom. She sat Quinn down on the closed toilet lid before making her way to the bath and turning the taps. She waited for the water to turn hot before placing the plug into the drain. She reached for a purple bottle to the side of the tub and uncapped it. She poured quite a bit into the steady stream of water and watched as thousands of tiny bubbles began to form.
She recapped the bottle and put it back before returning to Quinn. Bending down in front of her, Rachel placed her hands on Quinn’s cold knees. Her right hand reached up to move some strands of hair that had fallen into her face. “We’re going to get into the bath, and you’re going to let me take care of you while you tell me what happened. Ok?” Rachel told her in a decisive but comforting tone.
Quinn just nodded her head in acceptance.
Rachel kept her position and contact with Quinn to make sure the girl knew she wasn’t abandoning her. She moved her right hand from Quinn’s hair to the side of her neck where she saw a red raw line of skin. Rachel suddenly realized that Quinn wasn’t wearing her cross. She tried to meet Quinn’s gaze to find out what happened, but Quinn refused to look her in the eye. Rachel looked down briefly before pushing herself up to make her way to the bathtub that was now half full.
She quickly checked the temperature before returning to Quinn and helping her stand up. “Come on, let’s get you warmed up.” She gently took the towel from around Quinn and laid it out on the vacant toilet lid. Holding her hand, Rachel helped Quinn into the bath tub. Once Quinn was seated in the warm water, Rachel sat on the tiled floor by Quinn’s head. She brushed Quinn’s hair back from her face again and with her thumb stroked her cheek.
“Will you tell me what happened?” Rachel asked softly, but loud enough that Quinn could hear her over the rush of the water from the taps still filling the tub.
Quinn reached out and grabbed Rachel’s arms and pulled her close, ignoring the splash of water that lapped the side of the tub. Quinn buried her head in Rachel’s neck. “Sit with me? Please?” She begged into Rachel’s neck.
Rachel nodded her head before gently pulling away from the blonde. She stood up and turned the taps off before she undressed, letting her clothes sit in a pile on the floor. She pushed them aside with her foot before she motioned for Quinn to lean forward so she could sit behind her.
As soon as Rachel lowered herself into the tub Quinn pulled Rachel’s arms around her, their fingers intertwining. “Thank you,” she whispered.
Rachel hugged her close, their joined hands resting on her baby bump. It was much more noticeable now. She let their hands slide over the bump a few times, her chin resting on Quinn’s shoulder. “Please tell me what happened,” she said softly.
Quinn was silent for a few minutes as she felt their hands on her belly. She felt a kick in her belly and heard Rachel gasp behind her.
“Did she just?” Rachel whispered completely amazed.
Quinn nodded her head. In a quiet voice she replied, “I started feeling her today. I think I felt her during Glee this afternoon, when you brushed past me, but I wasn’t sure.” She took a deep breath. “Then this afternoon I was in my room. I was working on my Spanish homework and I was thinking of calling you because I couldn’t figure out one of the verbs, when she kicked harder. I knew it was her this time and I had my hand on my belly when my Mom came in.”
Rachel tightened her hold on Quinn slightly, as if trying to fight off what was coming next.
“She freaked, naturally,” Quinn said followed by a loud sigh. “She started yelling about how she thought I was just getting fat and yelling all these questions at me and then my father came in and it got all kinds of crazy. They started talking about getting rid of it. Then I started yelling because they’re supposed to be against that, and they kept changing the rules. So, I told them it was too late anyway and I was going to keep her.”
Rachel untangled their fingers to lay her hand properly over Quinn’s belly, guarding it from outside harm.
“My mom was furious. She wanted to send me away. She began yelling at me again; asking me how I could sin like this, that this wasn’t what God wanted for me. And I asked her how she could know that. I told them that maybe this was God’s plan for me.” Quinn laid her hand over Rachel’s on her belly. “She didn’t like that one bit and Daddy began threatening Finn. I had to tell them it wasn’t Finn’s but I wouldn’t tell them whose it was because I knew Daddy would try to kill him. “
Rachel placed a kiss on her shoulder and kept her mouth there.
“My dad couldn’t look at me. He said he wanted to throw me out because that’s what I deserved for bringing such disgrace to the family. My mom talked him out of it, but only because they need to keep up appearances. She even used those words. She knows everyone will find out about the baby, but they can’t look like they threw me out. It wouldn’t look good with their friends.” Quinn closed her eyes and let the tears begin to fall. Her shoulders shook as she began to cry again.
Rachel held Quinn to her chest as she listened to the sobs. “It’s going to be okay,” Rachel promised. “Maybe not right away, but it will be. You’ll see.” Quinn nodded her head slightly, but at that moment, she didn’t think it could be okay.
A few minutes passed and Quinn’s tears slowed. Rachel continued to gently rub Quinn’s belly feeling slight movement beneath her hand. “She moves a lot,” she mused softly.
Quinn let a smile grace her lips, “I think it’s because she knows you’re here,” Quinn replied, her left hand gripping Rachel’s free hand and pulling it rest between her breasts. “At least, that’s what I like to think.”
“Are you going to be a little gold star, too?” Rachel cooed to Quinn’s belly. Quinn giggled and settled against Rachel.
“Are you going to tell me about your necklace?” Rachel asked bringing her right hand up to caress the side of Quinn’s neck.
Rachel felt Quinn tense in her arms. That was the first indication that things were worse than she was led to believe. “What happened?”
Quinn turned her head toward Rachel, burying her forehead into the crook of Rachel’s neck and shoulder. “After they stopped yelling, they made me stay in my room. Said they needed to discuss what to do with me.”
~~~
Quinn sat at her desk, her hands on her belly, her head down. “I promise I won’t let them do anything to you. I promise,” she whispered, tears falling onto her top. She heard the rumble of thunder and looked up out the window at the rain that began pouring down.
Quinn reached for the photo frame on her desk of the Glee kids. Rachel had gotten her a copy of the photo she had in her room. Quinn kept hers on her desk when she was studying but moved it to her bedside when she went to sleep. She brought the frame to her lap and ran a finger over Rachel’s face. She felt the baby move again and she grinned through her tears. Clearly the baby knew of Rachel.
“I miss you,” she whispered to the photo. She knew she should call Rachel but didn’t want to call her crying because then Rachel would want to come over and now was not a good time.
She jumped when she heard her mother bellowing for her from downstairs. She stroked Rachel’s face once more before placing the photo back on her desk. She pushed herself out of her chair and slowly made her way downstairs. She found her parents in her father’s office. Her mother was sitting on the leather couch, a glass filled with amber liquid in her hand while her father stood behind his desk, his back to her.
Quinn stood to the side of the doorway. She didn’t dare move any further into the room. She placed her hands on her belly to protect her little girl. Her mother caught the movement and Quinn saw her sneer at her belly.
“How many people know about this?” Her father asked, his head turned to the side, but still not looking at her.
Quinn swallowed before answering, “Everyone at school already knows.” She saw her mother take a gulp of the liquid in her glass. Her dad crossed his arms.
“Plan B it is,” her mother voiced and Quinn suddenly became worried. She took a slight step back and her eyes moved from her mother who couldn’t quite meet her stare to her father who still refused to look at her.
She was almost afraid to ask. “What... what’s Plan B?”
Finally her mother looked up at her with contempt. “You’re going to have the baby, but you aren’t keeping it. When you go into labor, there will be someone there to take the baby as soon as you give birth. We’ll pretend it’s a still birth and we can forget this whole thing ever happened.”
Quinn was horrified. “No! You can’t do that! This is my body and my baby. I won’t let you take her from me!”
“Quinn! Just listen to your mother for once!” Her father boomed as he finally turned to face her. “This is the best solution to this problem. We’re thinking of your future.”
Quinn could feel the tears pooling in her eyes. “My future? This isn’t about my future! All you can think about is what everyone will think of you!” Quinn shook her head and turned to leave.
“Do you really think anyone will be interested in you with a baby hanging off your arm?” Her mother replied in abhorrence. Quinn heard the stretching of the leather couch as her mother stood up.
Quinn and her mother had never really gotten along. Her mother was far too into appearances and high society - or whatever was equivalent in Lima - that she’d spent about 98% of Quinn’s childhood berating her, belittling her and moulding her into the perfect little spawn and the other 2% ignoring her. Quinn never could quite understand what she’d ever done to deserve her mother’s disappointment and disgust.
Quinn turned back to face her parents and met her mother’s steely gaze head on. “Is that what you’re really worried about? Marrying me off to some good Catholic boy? Ever thought that maybe that’s not what I want?”
Her mother took a step in her direction. “What you want has no place in this discussion. I’m your mother and I know what’s best for you. We’re going to get rid of that thing and everything will go back to normal. You’ll find a boyfriend, maybe get back together with Finn and it will be as it’s supposed to be.”
Quinn just looked her mother up and down with loathing. In her mind, she flashed back to that Sunday morning in the Berry kitchen where they had sat around the table and laughed and joked and talked about the baby and possible baby names. That was what she wanted for her daughter. For too long this family had lived off deceit and cover-ups just to look the part of the perfect family. Quinn was done with that. She let out a scoff of disbelief. “Do you really think I’m just going to forget I have a daughter out there? It’s not going to happen. And you’re wrong. There is someone who wants me and my baby.”
Her mother laughed at her as she crossed her arms, her grip visibly tightening on her glass. “And you think he’s going to get up with you for the 3am feedings? Change its diaper seven times a day?”
Quinn crossed her arms in battle and took a step forward. “You really think that diaper changes and feedings are what are important?” Quinn shook her head in disbelief. “What you haven’t learned, mother, is that she supports me in all my decisions. She is just as excited about this baby as I am and she just wants me to be happy. She encourages me every day. She believes in me and I’m not giving that up. Not for you, not for anybody.”
Her parents were stunned silent as she revealed her final secret. They stood staring at her. Her mother’s mouth wide open in shock, her dad looking on with a mixed expression of pride and uncertainty. Quinn decided to leave her parents with that final thought. She turned on her heel and began to exit her father’s office, head held high. She felt a hand painfully grip onto her arm and spin her around. Fingers clawed at her neck and with a yank, her skin burned and her necklace was ripped from her skin. She heard her father yell out her mother’s name.
“You’ve never been good enough to wear this.” Her mother said in a low and threatening tone.
Quinn looked past her mother to her father who had his hands braced on his desk, his head bowed. She looked back at her mother and with as much malice as she had left in her she replied, “If it makes me turn out like you, then I don’t want to wear it.” With that, she turned on her heel and as calmly as she could, grabbed her jacket off the hook by the front door and left.
~~~
When Quinn finished recounting the horror that was her evening, Rachel pulled Quinn’s lips to her own and gave her a long, lingering kiss. When they pulled apart, Rachel suggested they get out and get dressed for bed so they could have their hot chocolate.
Rachel wrapped a towel around herself before she helped Quinn out of the bath and soothingly dried her off with a second towel. She wrapped the towel around Quinn and led her back to her room where she found a t-shirt big enough to fit over Quinn’s growing belly. She also found her a pair of shorts to sleep in and helped her into them.
After she was dressed, Quinn sat on Rachel’s bed and watched as she got changed into her own night clothes. “Why do you take such good care of me?” She asked, her right hand slowly rubbing her belly.
Rachel finished pulling her pajama shorts on and carried her top with her as she made her way back to Quinn. She dropped to her knees in front of Quinn’s spread legs. She bent forward and kissed her belly before looking up. “Do you want the honest truth?” She asked in a soft voice.
Quinn looked down at her topless lover between her legs and nodded her head. She brought her hand up to caress the side of Rachel’s face. “Please?”
Rachel leaned her face into Quinn’s hand before kissing her palm. She looked up at Quinn and slightly shrugged her shoulders. “Because... well, because I love you.” Rachel quickly averted her gaze to Quinn’s belly where she leant forward and kissed it again.
Quinn felt tears well in her eyes again for the millionth time that night. “Really?” She asked before pulling Rachel toward her, their lips barely touching. Rachel nodded her head and then felt Quinn’s lips on her own. Quinn took control of the kiss and tried to put as much meaning into it as possible.
They were interrupted by a knock on the door. Quinn pulled away first.
“Just a second,” Rachel called out breathlessly as she pulled the top hanging by her side up and over her head. She gave Quinn a peck on the lips and then stood to let her dad in.
Quinn wiped a tear away from her cheek as Jacob looked at the two girls. “Hot chocolate is ready.” He gave Rachel a small smile and left the two girls to make his way downstairs.
“We’ll be right there,” Rachel replied to his retreating back. She held out a hand for Quinn to take. Quinn pulled herself up off the bed and grabbed onto Rachel’s outstretched hand. Instead of following, she tugged on the hand and pulled Rachel to her. “I love you, too.”
Rachel beamed at her before quickly kissing her on the lips and tugging her hand toward the staircase. “Come on, you’ll love Daddy’s hot chocolate.”
~~~
The four sat around the island in the kitchen. They each held a mug of steaming hot chocolate between their hands and a plate of mini marshmallows sat between the two couples.
Michael sat opposite Quinn and reached a hand out to one of hers. He placed his hand gently over her wrist in a comforting manner. “Do you want to tell us what happened? Maybe there’s something we can do to help?”
Quinn looked down at his hand on her arm. His hand was warm from the mug he’d been holding. She looked over at Rachel who smiled encouragingly at her. Quinn looked into Michael’s caring eyes.
“I told my parents about the baby.” She looked down at her hands clasping the mug before looking back up again. She took a deep breath. She’d already told the most important person in her life what had happened. She could do this. “They weren’t too happy, of course. My mom was furious and she wants me to get rid of it. I told her that I wanted to keep her, but my mother is convinced that I’ll just have the baby and then give her up. They want me to say it was a still birth so they can adopt her out.”
Jacob turned his head away from Quinn. He just couldn’t understand how any parent could do this to their child. His upbringing had been so completely different and he never quite understood how parents could be so cruel and unforgiving.
Michael stroked Quinn’s wrist in an encouraging manner. He wanted her to know that both he and Jacob were there for her, no matter what.
Quinn fought the hormones and held her tears back. “I told them that I wouldn’t go through with it because I wanted to keep my baby. My mother made some comment about no one wanting me with a baby on my arm and that if we did it her way, we could go back to normal.” Quinn paused because she didn’t know how they’d react to knowing she’d outed their daughter.
She met Michael’s gaze and in a hurried tone she tried to convince them of how apologetic she wa., “I’m so sorry. I told them about Rachel. I didn’t say her name. I promise. But they know and I’m so sorry. My mom ripped my cross off because she said I wasn’t good enough to wear it anymore. But I swear I didn’t tell them Rachel’s name.”
Michael let go of her wrist and leaned across the island to cup Quinn’s face in both his hands. He made sure to meet her eyes before he spoke. “Don’t ever apologise for who you are. Okay? Don’t ever be afraid to be who you are and don’t be afraid to tell people. If they can’t love you for whom you are, then it’s their loss. Alright?” He asked and pinned her with a pointed look. Quinn nodded her head and Michael leant even further over the island to kiss Quinn on the forehead. He let his thumbs caress her cheekbones before giving her a warm smile and sitting back in his seat, his hand back to holding her wrist in an encouraging manner.
“Did they,” Michael started before coughing to clear his throat, “Did they throw you out?” He asked carefully.
Quinn shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t really know. My dad wanted to throw me out when he found out about the baby but my mom convinced him otherwise. Then... well, then I told them about Rachel. It was kind of left hanging.” She looked up at Michael who held her gaze. “I’m not sure I have a home to go to anymore.” She bit her bottom lip to stop herself from crying, but she could feel the tension building in her throat.
Michael looked over at Jacob who nodded his head. Michael let go of Quinn’s wrist to stand and make his way around the island to her side. He pulled her into a hug and held her close. “We haven’t spoken to Rachel about it yet, but we do have a spare room that can be yours for as long as you need it. For you and the baby.” He felt Quinn begin to cry against his chest, her arms holding him tighter. “You don’t have to make a decision just yet, but the offer will always be there. Do you understand?” He asked as he rest his cheek on the top of her head.
He felt Quinn nod her head against him and watched as Jacob led Rachel to the stovetop to fill their mugs with the remaining hot chocolate. He heard Quinn mumble something against his chest and he pulled away slightly to hear her.
“Why are you being so nice to me? I’ve been so horrible to your daughter for years. Now, I’m pregnant and Rachel’s my only friend and we’re... well... we’re whatever we are and in the grand scheme of things I’m nobody.” Quinn asked between tears. She sucked in a breath as she felt Michael pull her tighter against him.
“You listen to me, Miss Fabray. You’re not a nobody. You’re Quinn Fabray, the hot cheerleader that asked permission to make out with my daughter. The same strong Quinn Fabray that stood up to her parents this evening. The Quinn Fabray that’s going to have a beautiful baby girl and the same Quinn Fabray that is finally learning what it’s like to live in the Berry Household. Whatever happens in the future, we’re always going to be here. You’ll always have a place here,” Michael said in a convincing tone.
“I love Rachel,” Quinn suddenly blurted out. She needed Rachel’s dad to understand that even with everything going on in her life, she really did love Rachel.
Michael laughed. “Oh honey, Jacob and I have known that from the second you first stepped through our front door.”
Quinn grinned through her tears and just hugged tighter.
~~~
“What has that little smile on your face?” Jacob asked Rachel as he watched his daughter pour some more hot chocolate into her mug.
Rachel couldn’t help the grin that came over her lips. “I know it’s been a horrible night for her, but, she told me she loves me.”
Jacob grinned and pulled her into a hug. “I’m really happy for you. And very proud of you, too.”
Rachel kissed her dad on the cheek. “Thank you.” She stared at him with a curious expression on her face for a few seconds. “How long were you and Daddy planning on offering the spare room to Quinn?”
Her Dad blushed, “Well you know your Daddy. He’s been planning from the moment she walked through the door. He thought this might happen and you know I’m not going to let anything happen to her either.”
Rachel hugged her dad close to her. “Thank you,” she whispered.
~~~
It had been decided that Quinn would stay with the Berry’s for the night. They made it clear that Quinn didn’t need to make a decision until she was sure she knew where she stood with her parents. The spare room would always be there until she claimed it. If she did decide to move in, then they’d all have to sit down together and decide on how the situation would work best for everyone.
Quinn and Rachel lay side by side in bed, facing each other. “How are you feeling?” Rachel asked as she placed her hand on Quinn’s protruding belly.
Quinn scooted closer to Rachel. “I feel a lot better than I did a few hours ago. Thank you,” she whispered as she leaned forward to kiss Rachel. The t-shirt she was wearing rubbed against her sensitive nipples and she hissed at the brief contact.
Rachel pulled away. “What’s wrong? Is it the baby?” Rachel questioned full of concern, she placed both her hands on Quinn’s belly, but then felt the baby kick.
Quinn blushed. “She’s fine, it’s... it’s embarrassing.” She replied looking down at her belly and Rachel’s hands.
Rachel cupped her chin and forced Quinn to look at her. “Please don’t be embarrassed around me.”
Quinn shifted and the shirt rubbed against her again and she winced in pain. “It’s just... I’m really sensitive and your shirt is... well it hurts.”
Rachel grinned at her. “You could always take the shirt off. I have no objections to your nudity.”
“Yeah, I bet you don’t,” Quinn replied as she rolled her eyes.
Rachel quickly sobered up. “Is there something I can get you? Maybe some moisturiser?”
Quinn shook her head. She didn’t think rubbing anything on her chest would be helpful. “Do you maybe have a singlet top I can borrow? It’ll mould better then letting the shirt rub against me.”
Rachel quickly removed herself from the bed and made her way to the chest of drawers next to the bathroom door. She located a long black singlet top that she thought would fit over the baby bump as well. “Here, you put this on while I find the present I got for the baby.” Rachel handed over the top before walking over to her desk and moving a few papers around to locate the present.
Quinn looked up at Rachel with surprise. “You bought the baby a present?” She asked softly. Quinn sat up in bed and began to change her top. She pulled the black top over her head and carefully situated it against her chest.
Rachel picked up a pile of papers and found the present. She pulled it out and replaced all the items she’d moved. “I didn’t get to wrap it. I hope that’s okay.” She picked up the present and brought it with her to the bed.
Quinn just stared at Rachel in amazement. “I can’t believe you got her a present. You didn’t have to, you know?”
Rachel slid between the sheets and handed over the present. “I wanted to.”
Quinn looked down at the gift in her hands. It was a book. One specifically designed for babies and small children, with its thick, cardboard pages and small size. “The Very Hungry Caterpillar?” She read in a soft voice, her index finger tracing the illustration on the front.
“She’s never too young to have books read to her. It was one of my favourites,” Rachel explained with a shrug of her shoulders. She tried to brush the gift off as an everyday occurrence.
Quinn gave her a watery smile before looking down at the cover again. She handed the book back to Rachel. “Will you read it to her?” She asked.
Rachel’s eyes lit up before quickly taking the book into her own hands. She urged Quinn to lie back so she could read to her belly. Rachel moved down the bed to rest her hand on Quinn’s baby bump. She placed the book on the mattress and opened it with her left hand. “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” she began. “In the light of the moon a little egg lay on a leaf.”
Quinn watched and listened as Rachel read her baby girl her very first story. Bringing her right hand down to the side of Rachel’s face, she brushed a few strands back behind Rachel’s ear before caressing her cheek. Rachel shot her a quick grin before returning to the pages of the book. Quinn let her head rest back against the pillow. She closed her eyes and placed her hands on top of Rachel’s on her belly.
“On Thursday he ate through four strawberries, but he was still hungry...”