Coming Back 10 Years Later [1/2]
Title: Coming Back 10 Years Later
Rating: PG-13
Author: gabbie217
Pairings: Brittany/Santana; Rachel/Kurt; Rachel/Quinn; Mentions- Rachel/many actresses
Summary: Quinn returns to Lima not just for her High School reunion.... But also for her heart.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Just the cheesy plot.
Spoiler Alert: I may reference some moments from season's 1&2 -all episodes to be safe.
Author's Note: Not edited. My beta is still AWOL :[ :[
10 Year Reunion. The words on the card screamed at her, making her flinch as if they were a physical blow. Quinn couldn't believe it had been ten years since she had left Lima, Ohio far behind. In the years that had followed, Quinn had gotten a degree in law, becoming one of L.A.'s top criminal defense lawyers. Quinn ate and breathed her work, hardly ever home. So she was not suprised to find that the reminder had come two months ago. The date of the reunion was set for next thursday. Or more accurately, two days from now.
"Huh," Quinn muttered to herself. "So that's what Santana's text had meant."
Out of all the people Quinn had been friends with at McKinely -mainly just the cheerleading squad- she had only stayed in touch with Santana, and through her, Brittany. The two girls were living in L.A. as well, with Brittany teaching at her very own dance studio when she wasn't on tour with Beyonce and Rihanna. Santana had suprisingly gone into the medical field, despite her having no bedside manner at all, becoming a primary doctor to many well-known names.
Just last week Santana had sent a text asking Quinn if she was coming. Unsure as to what her best friend meant, Quinn had deleted the text, brushing it off as a wrong number.
Thinking of her old high school made Quinn slip down memory lane. She recalled how she had risen, fallen, then risen again on the social ladder at McKinley High. How she had shot down the one girl who had actually been genuinely nice to her. Back then Santana hadn't truly been her friend, neither had Brittany. But Rachel had. Yet, Quinn had pushed the brunette away. Grown-up now, Quinn realized what a fool she had been. Nothing she could do now though.
Quinn of course had seen Rachel's name and picture splashed over all the papers and all over the internet. The girl had been right when she said she was a star. Quinn was pretty sure there was not a single person alive who didn't know who Rachel was. Quinn herself had gone to one of Rachel's concerts with Santana since Brittany was one of Rachel's back-up dancers. If anything, Rachel had gotten more talented.
After graduation Quinn had lost contact with her ex-boyfriend Sam, but she knew he was doing well in Puck's band that had Finn and Artie in it as well. The rest of the glee club, Mercedes, Tina, Kurt and Mike had gone on to do other things not in the music industry. Mike actually worked at Brittany's studio, filling in for her while she was gone, but running the Asian department the rest of the time. Kurt, naturally, was heading up one of the world's most succesful fashion/interior decorating agency. Mercedes owned a Vocal Lessons studio somewhere in West LA. Quinn had no idea what Tina was up to, since she really didn't care.
Pressing a button on her phone Quinn paged her secretary.
"Yes Miss Fabray?" Krista asked.
"Get me a flight to Lima Ohio." Quinn said briskly.
"Uh, you already have one. Your friend Santana Lopez alredy booked it for tomorrow morning. Didn't you get the memo she left you?" Krista sounded nervous.
Damn Santana for butting into her business. "Of course, I see it now." Picking up the piece of paper she had almost thrown away, Quinn read the flight details plus Santana's added note.
You're coming whether you want to or not Q. If I have to drag your skinny ass along, I will. XOXO S
Crumpling it up, Quinn tossed it in the trash. Having a photographic memory sure was helpful. Pressing the button once again, Quinn ordered Krista to check the weather details for the next week in Lima, so she would know what to pack. Once she got her information Quinn left for the day.
**
Looking out at the passing scenery Quinn felt a wave of nostalgia for the small town she had left behind. She had forgotten about how open everything was as opposed to how LA was. The streets she used to run along and play on with Santana and Brittany passed her as the Taxi drove her to her old house.
Her mother had died a few years ago of alcohol poisoning, and the house had been left to Quinn. Quinn's older sister had stayed in it for awhile when her own house was being worked on and the household staff still lived in the servant's quarters, so it was clean and well-stocked, but just as empty as it had been when Quinn's mom was alive.
"Good to see ya Quinn," the older cab driver said real friendly like.
"Thanks," Quinn said awkwardly. She had no idea who this man was. Tossing him a bill, she added, "Keep the change."
Stepping out of the cab, grabbing her luggage from the trunk, Quinn looked up at the house she hadn't seen in over ten years. Not even when her mother had died did Quinn go back. It had been to hard at the time. And Quinn hadn't made time to come back since the funeral. She loved and hated the rush of memories as she inhaled the scent of her childhood home when she stepped into the front hall. Walking up the stairs she saw her room as it had been when she left. A picture on her night stand brought a lump to her throat.
Holding the trophy from Nationals triumphantly was the entire glee club. Finn, Mike, Puck, Lauren, Artie, Santana, Brittany, Rachel, Tina, Mercedes, Quinn, Sam and Mr. Schue all grinned at the camera, mouths open in happy shrieks. Quinn could almost hear the cheering and almost felt the elation she had felt.
"NEW DIRECTIONS!" Josh Groban shouted into the microphone.
Exploding into cheers, the New Directions kids jumped up and down screaming. Rachel burst into happy tears as Finn picked her up and swung her around happily. Quinn jumped into Sam's arms, kissing him enthusiastically. Santana and Brittany hugged each other tightly before going over to their respective boyfriends.
Kurt came over beaming despite the fact he and The Warblers had come in second place. "Congratulations!"
Mr. Schue hugged each kid, not bothering to hide the fact he was crying.
Miss Pillsbury directed the kids so that everyone could be seen in the picture. In the middle, Rachel and Finn held the trophy high, with everyone reaching up to touch it. Too excited to just smile, Rachel shrieked, "WE DID IT!" which caused everyone to start cheering again.
That was the day a man from a succesful and well known Broadway company had come up to Rachel to offer her a job as a lead in his next show. She of course had accepted. And that was also the day Quinn realized she was in love with Rachel Berry.
**
Smoothing her black dress nervously, Quinn got into her mother's car. She drove the familar route back to high school feeling like she was 16 again. Parking next to a sleek black escalade and even sleeker blue camaro, Quinn got out of the car, feeling sick to her stomach as she looked at her old kingdom. What if people expected her to be the same bitch she had been back then? Or what if they ridiculed her for how she had turned out? Or-
"Are you just going to stand out here all day?" Santana saved Quinn from herself.
Pasting a smile on her face, Quinn greeted her best friend with a hug. "Hey S. Hey B." she nodded to the blonde that was a few feet behind Santana.
"Look Q!" Brittany beamed, twinkling her left hand at Quinn. A huge diamond ring reflected the sun prettily. "San proposed last night!"
"Aw congratulations!" Quinn gave a girlish squeal as she hugged Santana again.
"Yeah, yeah. K can we be done with all this hugging now?" Santana grumbled, looking pleased despite her grumpy attitude.
Laughing Quinn exchanged a look with Brittany. No matter how many years had passed, Santana would never change.
Tugging on Quinn's hand, Brittany led them into the gymansium where they used to lead pep rallies and watch Rachel make a fool of herself as she cheered for Finn in her lame Team Finn shirt. Not that Quinn had made a point of watching the girl.
The gym was decorated with streamers and balloons and other tacky things. In the middle were tables, decorated with more streamers and balloons. It was all so cheesy that Quinn couldn't help but grinning goofily. Someone had gone into way too much effort for a little reunion. It was just 10 years, Jesus. Looking around, Quinn couldn't believe she had gone to school with some of these people. Some of them had gotten fat and well, ugly. Some didn't change at all. And some... was that really Suzy Pepper!? Good Lord... When did she become such a babe?
"Quinn!" Mercedes Jones came running over, her wide mouth stretched into a grin. "How you been girl?"
"Mercedes!" Quinn said genuinely happy to see the girl. "It's been forever! I've been great! And you?"
"Me and Anthony are expecting!" Mercedes said joyfully.
"Congratulations!" Quinn's shoulders sagged a little. Everyone had good news except her. Unless you counted the fact that her Firm had just cracked two majorly huge cases because of her. That was good news. But not the kind you brag about at High School Reunions.
"You look great Quinn," Mercedes said, with just a hint of jealousy in her tone.
A commontion at the gym entrance stopped Quinn from replying.
"I'm so sorry!" a tall man was saying all flustered like.
Crumpled on the floor, a girl struggled to get up, her hair covering her face. "S'okay," she mumbled in a dazed voice.
A man with a hood covering his own face was frantically fluttering around the girl, anxiously making sure she was okay.
"Jeez Hudson, not even aging has made you more graceful," a familar voice chuckled.
"Puck!" Santana grinned, hurrying to embrace her old friend.
After releasing Santana, Puck helped the girl up. "Well, well, well. Look who's come back to grace us with her presence," Puck drawled.
"Rachel!" Brittany and Mercedes exclaimed in unison.
Quinn's heart leapt in excitment. Rachel!
Flashing them all her famous smile, Rachel waved excitedly. "Hey guys! Miss me?"
"Miss you?" another extremely familar voice laughed. "I can't go anywhere without seeing your face!" The boy with the hood revealed himself.
"Kurt!" Mercedes squealed. "What're you doing here?!"
"He's my date," Rachel explained, her voice muffled since both Puck and Finn were hugging her.
"Aren't you both gay?" Mercedes gave an uncertain laugh.
The two small Diva's exchanged looks. Rachel bit her lip, with a soft smile. Kurt wiped his sweaty palms on his designer pants.
"Should we tell them?" Rachel whispered, twirling her necklace between nervous fingers.
Quinn's insides froze up. She watched anxiously.
Kurt took Rachel's hand, nodding seriously but happily. "Yes, they deserve the truth."
Taking a deep breath, Rachel turned to the group that had formed around them. "I'm pregnant. Kurt is the dad!" Rachel announced.
There was a stunned silence. Quinn felt like she was going to pass out.