You Said Forever [1/1]
Title: You Said Forever
Rating: PG-13
Author: gabbie217
Pairings: Rachel/Quinn; Spencer/Ashley; Minor Brittany/Santana
Sumamry: Quinn Carlin has never really gotten over losing her first true love during a shooting at Prom.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Spoiler Alert: If you've never seen the show, spoilers for South of Nowhere.
Author's Note: I would love to see Dianna Agron and Gabrielle Christenson in a movie or something as sisters...
"HI!" Spencer shouted, rushing at Quinn with open arms. "AH I've missed you so much!"
Quinn dropped her bags, accepting Spencer's embrace eagerly. "I know! It's been what? 5 years? How's my favorite nephew Clay?"
"He's excited for his party tomorrow. It's all he can talk about," Ashley spoke up, coming in to hug her sister-in-law. "San and Brit are taking off work to come as well. So that made him even more happy."
"Ashley!" Quinn grinned. "You got rid of the pink streak!"
"I figured since I'm a mother and 28 years old, I should look more mature." Ashley shrugged.
"Oh you liar! Clay got bleach in her hair, so she had to dye it all." Spencer laughed, wincing theatrically when her wife slapped her on the arm.
Giggling, Quinn patted Ashley's shoulder. "I never woulda known Ash. Your secret is safe with me."
"Maybe from you, but your sister..." Ashley pretended to glare at Spencer. The blonde just laughed again, making kissy faces at Ashley.
"You know you love me."
"Unfortunately," Ashley sighed, giving a peck to Spencer's cheek.
Averting her eyes, Quinn felt the familiar pang of sadness and loneliness that came whenever she saw a happy couple. Especially a blonde girl with a brunette girl. It was too familiar. Too much salt on the wound. Clearing her throat, Quinn forced a smile. "Shall we go see my nephew? Speaking of.. where is Clay?"
"Aiden's." Spencer rolled her eyes. "I swear, the more time Clay spends there, the more he thinks the world is his to own."
"As it should be!" Ashley sniffed, smirking. "Why shouldn't our son be king of the world?"
Spencer scooped up Quinn's carry-on bag, leaving Ashley to deal with the massive suitcase, Quinn with her duffel bag of presents. The three girls chatted as they waited for the Valet to bring around Ashley's car.
**
Clay jumped into his aunt's arms, waving a fistful of cookies in her face. "Look what Daddy gave me!" he gloated.
"Not more sugar..." Spencer groaned, shooting a look at Aiden.
Aiden threw his hands in the air, looking as if to say, 'so sue me!'
Quinn hugged her little nephew tightly, kissing him on the cheeks several times. "I've missed my little Clay-boy!"
"Auntie Quinnnnn," Clay protested, leaning away. His eyes gave away the fact he was loving all of this attention. "Did you bring presents?!"
"I sure did. I brought 4 packages for your mom, 5 for your mommy, 3 for your daddy, and 2 for your Uncle Glen. I even brought one for Auntie Kyla." Quinn grinned.
Pouting, Clay grabbed Quinn's face with both hands. "I meant for me. It's my birthday tomorrow. Not theirs."
"Ohhh. So I brought the wrong presents?" Quinn asked him, a smile creeping onto her face.
"Yes. Auntie Quinn, what are you going to do? My party is tomorrow." Clay looked worried for his aunt. Everyone brought him presents for his birthday... she'd be the only one who wouldn't.
Laughing, Quinn put him down. "I guess you'll just have to wait and see."
Aiden took all of Quinn's bags inside, complaining good-naturedly about how heavy they were. Clay followed his father, eyes boring holes into the bag he knew held presents.
"What a fine boy we've raised," Ashley laughed, staring after Clay.
Spencer linked arms with her sister, who was only 4 minutes older then she was. "We redecorated the guest house. Wait until you see it!" she said excitedly.
Upon entering the massive house, Quinn had managed to get her emotions in check. But when she flopped down on a couch in the living room, a row of pictures on the mantle caught her eye. Smiling, Quinn examined pictures of herself and her fraternal twin sister, being held by Glen. Next was a picture of Spencer, Quinn, Glen, and Clay the first. Clay's eyes were wary, still not used to living with the Carlin family, being the only black boy. A picture of Ashley wearing a princess outfit, posing dramatically for the camera, her arms wrapped around her fathers neck made Quinn laugh aloud. Even at the age of 4, Ashley had been dramatic.
It was the picture on the very end that made Quinn light-headed. She remembered clearly the night it had been taken. How rough the road had been to that night. How the Carlin family had almost been torn apart when Quinn and Spencer had come out of the closet. True, Quinn's experience hadn't been as bad as her sisters, but it had been no easier.
Mrs. Carlin had blamed Rachel and Ashley for turning her daughters gay, not wanting to accept the facts for reality. But over time, she had come around, coming to love both Rachel and Ashley, and who her daughters were because of them. For awhile it seemed everything was perfect. Rachel and Quinn were going steady, Ashley and Spencer had worked things out. They were ready for prom, having already picked out their perfect dresses, making appointments to have a spa day two days before the Prom. Glen was ready to graduate and head off to college, leaving Clay in charge. It was straight out of a fairy-tale book. Naturally fate intervened before things got too perfect.
Prom Night
"Oh my gosh," Ashley breathed, gazing up at Spencer who was in a long black dress, that fitted her form perfectly. "You look stunning."
"Thanks," Spencer said grinning. "You clean up nicely as well." Ashley wore a slim white dress, with silver accents.
"I-I brought you this," Ashley mumbled, thrusting out the corsage, looking nervous.
"Do I have to put it on myself?" Spencer teased.
Giggling quietly, Ashley slipped the pink flower on Spencer's slim wrist. "There." she said looking satisfied.
"I got you one too," Spencer admitted, producing a box with a white corsage inside. She put it on Ashley's wrist, beaming.
"Quinn!" Clay yelled up the stairs. "Hurry up! Your date is waiting!"
Rachel brushed a brown lock out of her face, looking at Clay greatfully. "Thanks C," she said in her light voice. She smoothed out her blue and green dress nervously. It was a rarity for Rachel Berry to be nervous, but here she was, looking like she was about to audition for Barbra Streisand herself.
"I'm almost done!" Quinn shouted back. 5 minutes later, she descended the stairs, looking like a goddess to Rachel.
For the small brunette, those extra minutes of waiting had been worth it. "Wow Q..." Rachel's eyes shined with admiration. "You-you." Stunned into silence, Rachel just gaped at her date. Quinn's hair was pulled into a bun, a few tendrils framing her face, curled at the ends.
Smiling modestly, Quinn ducked her eyes. "Thanks. You look gorgeous as well."
"Picture! Picture!" Mr. Carlin urged. Mrs. Carlin positioned Glen and Madison, Clay and his date, Quinn and Rachel, and Spencer and Ashley in front of the fireplace.
"Smile!" she called out, as Mr. Carlin held up the camera.
Smiling brightly, the Carlin kids held tightly onto their dates.
"Beautiful," Mr. Carlin bragged, gazing at the picture with a pleased smile. "We have the cutest kids with the cutest dates!"
Laughing, the 'kids' got into the limo to head to the dance.
Quinn held Rachel's hand tightly, happy that everything was falling into place.
Clay passed out flutes of sparkling cider, while Aiden added a dash of something from his flask.
Toasting to each other, and their happiness.
Rachel and Quinn, Ashley and Spencer, Santana and Brittany danced in a group, at the center of the dance floor. Glen and Madison were nearby, having their own dance off with Aiden and Kyla. Clay and Chelsea were at a table, cooling off with some punch.
Having excused themselves, Quinn and Rachel walked around the school grounds, holding hands.
"Our future is coming hard and coming fast," Quinn said sounding scared and excited.
"I know," Rachel said, looking around wistfully. "I can't believe next year will be our last here."
"Then it's on to college." Quinn sighed, gnawing on her lip anxiously.
"Hey, hey." Rachel said softly, putting her hand on Quinn's cheek. "We're gonna be seniors next year. But right now, technically, we're still juniors. Let's not worry about some silly thing that is a long ways off."
"You're right. This is prom. One of the best nights of our lives..." Quinn smiled ruefully. "I'm not making it very fun am I?"
"Au contraire," Rachel whispered. She leaned up, placing her lips gently atop of Quinn's. "This is one of the best nights."
Kissing again, the girls parted when they heard the DJ announce the last song.
"May I have this dance Miss Carlin?" Rachel asked grandly.
"Why yes you may!" Quinn beamed.
Taking Quinn's hand, Rachel led her back to the dance floor. Slipping her tan arms around Quinn's neck, Rachel began swaying in time with the music.
After the song ended, they walked leisurely with the crowd, heading towards the parking lot.
"Spencer!" Ashley's voice said loudly, making Quinn look up just in time to see Spencer brush past her and Rachel, wiping tears from her face.
"Spence?" Quinn let go of Rachel, hurrying after her sister.
"Spencer I'm sorry!" Ashley caught up quickly.
Rachel watched the scene, the back of her neck prickling. She felt something bad was going to happen before it did.
"Quinn!" Rachel called out nervously, fighting the urge to take Quinn and run.
"Not now Rachel!" Quinn snapped.
That's when hell broke loose. The sound of gunfire filled the night air, scattering the mass of happy students. Glen shielded Madison, while Aiden swung Ashley, Spencer and Quinn to the ground, protecting them. Clay had just reached Rachel, covering both Chelsea and Rachel with his body as he tried to push them to the ground. Screams and cries echoed around, causing even more fear and chaos to errupt.
**
Quinn burst into the ER room, shuddering when she saw so many of her classmates holding each other, crying, and so many lying on gurneys, blood covering their nice clothes. She scanned the room, searching for her family, and for Rachel.
More and more ambulances were arriving, bringing more wounded kids in formal wear.
Quinn almost collapsed when Clay was brought in, blood covering his body his eyes blank and lifeless. She gathered with her family in a room, clutching at Spencer, the girls holding each other up.
When she got herself under control, Quin exited the room, looking for Rachel to tell her of the sad news. Clay and Rachel had been close, as Clay spent many days with the Berry family, since Eric was black.
"Have you seen Rachel?" Quinn asked Kyla, who was hugging Ashley, tears streaming down both girls faces.
"Quinn!" croaked out a voice.
Whirling around, Quinn saw her best friend.
Santana walked towards Quinn, grief etched into her pretty face. "They-they couldn't save her." Santana choked out.
At first Quinn thought Santana meant Brittany. But the blonde came into view, hugging herself, tears mixing with her eye make-up.
"Who?" Quinn drew a shaky breath, already knowing the answer.
"Rachel." Rachel had been Santana's best friend, after Brittany of course. The three had grown up together, gotten into trouble together, and had each other's backs from day one. "She asked for you the whole time, but I couldn't find you! I really tried!" Santana sobbed.
Sinking to her knees, Quinn burst into tears. Clay's death had put her into shock. But Rachel's death brought her back to life, allowing Quinn to feel every ounce of pain.
Brittany and Santana held Quinn as she wailed out her grief, trying to keep ahold of themselves for Quinn's sake. Spencer came out, sensing rather then hearing her twin's pain. Feeling relieved when she saw Ashley, then shattered as soon as she realized who was missing. Who was the only person to make Quinn cry in public.
"Oh no," Spencer whispered, fresh hot tears coursing down her cheeks. She knelt down by her sister and her friends, holding all three. Ashley and Kyla joining in.
Quinn had no idea how long she sat there. She had been so happy a few hours before, happy that she and Rachel were about to be seniors, about to start their long future together. Now she just wanted to die.
"You said forever Ray," Quinn sobbed, over and over. The words just spilled out, refusing to be reigned in.
"Auntie Quinn?" Clay the second asked her cautiously.
Blinking, Quinn drew herself from memory lane. She looked at the picture one last time before turning to her nephew. "Yes sweetie?"
"I didn't mean to make you cry. It's okay if you don't have a present for me..." Clay looked shame-faced.
"Oh honey, you didn't make me cry. I had only been teasing you. I have your presents. I was just missing my friend." Quinn showed him the framed photo.
Clay looked at it seriously, lingering at each happy face. "You loved her," he said in simple child-logic, resting his finger lightly on Rachel.
"Yes," Quinn said softly. "Yes, I loved Rachel."
"She died? Like Uncle Clay?" Clay questioned, once again right on the spot, like only children can do.
Nodding, Quinn felt her eyes fill with tears again. "Yes, Uncle Clay tried to save Rachel. Just like he tried to save Aunt Chelsea."
"But unlike Rachel, Uncle Clay did save Auntie Chelsea."
"Yes, sweetie. And we're very thankful he did. You would have loved both Uncle Clay and Rachel."
"Yes," Clay agreed. "I would have loved to know Aunt Rachel."
Nearly bursting into tears, Quinn hugged her nephew tightly.
"Mama says dinner is ready." Clay said after allowing himself to be hugged for a minute.
Quinn was startled. Had she really stood there staring at the picture that long?
Spencer smiled sadly when Quinn and Clay entered the dining room. "I set up your stuff in the guest house," she said.
"Thanks," Quinn mumbled, looking at the table instead of anyone in the room. She could deal with the grief inside, but she couldn't handle being pitied. "So, Clay, how many of your friends are coming tomorrow?"
Brightening, Clay began to eagerly rattle off a long list of boys his age.
That seemed to break the silence over the adults, and they thawed out, smiling at their favorite little boy. Aiden exchanged a smile with Quinn.
Maybe she wasn't quite over Rachel yet, but it helped having such a wonderful family surrounding her. And tomorrow Brittany and Santan would be there, completeting Quinn's broken circle.