Everyone Has a Facebook [10/11]
Title: Everyone Has a Facebook
Appearing Characters: The Fabray Family: Russell Fabray, Judy (Hunter) Fabray, Mr. and Mrs. Fabray [Russell's parents], The Eldest Fabray Daughter, Lucy Quinn Fabray
Surviving Hunter Family: Lily Hunter [Judy's younger sister]
Lucy Quinn's Friends: Rachel Berry, Santana Lopez, and Brittany Pierce
Rachel's Two Gay Dads: Leroy and Hiram Berry
Pairings: Rachel/Lucy Quinn, side Santana/Brittany, mentions past Rachel/Finn
Rating: PG-13 this chapter, NC-17 overall
Length: ~30,600 words
Summary: Lucy Quinn Fabray's life has been filled with secrets and forbidden memories. The summer before her senior year she takes it in to her own hands (with a little nudging from one Rachel Berry) to solve the questions that no one will answer. Santana Lopez and Brittany Pierce join her in the journey that leads down a path no one expected to a door that will change everything Quinn ever knew about herself.
Previous Chapters: [Chapter 1] [Chapter 2] [Chapter 3] [Chapter 4] [Chapter 5]
[Chapter 6] [Chapter 7] [Chapter 8] [Chapter 9]
-Chapter 10-
The apartment complex looked nice from the outside, fairly modern. Quinn took a few shaking breaths before she pressed the button to 322, still clutching the scrap of paper in her hand. As she waited she took a glance behind her; Rachel was only a few steps away, Santana and Brittany were standing on the sidewalk - Santana filing her nails and Brittany giving a reassuring smile.
“Can I help you?”
Quinn jumped, the soft feminine voice on the other line making her smile yet shake with nervousness.
“Lily Hunter?”
“Hunter is my maiden name, yes. Who are you?”
“I-I'm...It's...” Quinn took a deep breath and turned back to Rachel who only smiled and nodded. “Qu-Lucy. Lucy Fabray.”
There was silence and, for a moment, Quinn feared the worst. At least until she heard the buzzer sound to let her in. Rachel dashed to her side as she opened the door and Santana and Brittany followed close behind.
When Quinn raised an eyebrow at the sudden appearance of Santana's hand on her shoulder she got a smirk in return.
“She might be a serial killer or something,” Santana said with an eyeroll. “I mean, you share DNA and you're kind of psycho.”
“Thanks, Santana.”
The trio made their way to the bank of elevators and up to the third floor. It felt like the world was going in slow motion to Quinn but in a matter of seconds she was staring at a door with brass numbers reading “322”. It was Brittany who reached up and knocked on the door seeing as how one of Quinn's hands was clutched tightly in Rachel's and the other practically pinned to her side with how close Santana had gotten to her.
It barely took three seconds before the door was open and Quinn was staring straight into stormy grey-blue eyes and chestnut brown hair framing Lily's face and cascading down her shoulders.
“Lucy...” It came as a whisper but it was all it took for Quinn to lunge forward and be taken into Lily's arms. The almost-forgotten familiarity of Lily's arms around her felt amazing. It felt warm. It felt like everything Quinn thought it would be. She gripped tight to Lily's back and let a sob escape into the woman's shoulder.
“It's okay sweetie,” Lily whispered.
“Sorry,” Quinn said, pulling away and sniffling. “It's...yeah.”
Lily nodded and stepped aside, opening the door and motioning for all four girls to enter her apartment. The main area was one large room with a kitchen to the right and a seating area sunken into the floor. The outside wall was nothing but glass letting sunlight in. A quick glance around told Quinn right away that Lily had no other children but a large black and white portrait on the wall showed Lily and her husband. On either side of the portrait were framed college degrees, both with Lily's name on them.
“You're a doctor?” Santana quipped, inspecting the certificates.
“Physician's assistant,” Lily replied. “I work at the children's hospital. Would any of you like something to drink?”
All four girls shook their heads and followed Lily to the seating area where they all managed to fit on one of the black leather sofas with Lily in a matching chair across the coffee table.
“I'm sorry that I just...showed up,” Quinn said. “But I didn't know what else to do.”
“It's alright,” Lily said with a smile. “More than alright. I just can't believe you found me.”
“It wasn't easy,” Rachel chimed in. “Weeks of research and sleuthing coupled with obstacles and disappointments...it was rather taxing.”
Quinn felt a hand on hers and knew Rachel was looking at her but didn't dare take her eyes off of Lily for fear that the woman might just disappear into nothingness as she had in so many dreams.
“But it was worth it or whatever.” Santana shrugged.
“Who are you, exactly?”
“Oh, right,” Quinn said. She tore her eyes away from Lily to look to her right at Brittany and Santana.
“Brittany and Santana, my best friends.”
And then to her left where Rachel's glowing smile made the corners of Quinn's mouth tug upward.
“And my girlfriend, Rachel.”
Quinn turned back to Lily whose expression wasn't entirely shocked but still a little startled. She tucked her lower lip between her teeth and squeezed Rachel's hand a little.
“They helped me find you.”
Lily nodded. “So...why did you want to find me?”
Quinn took a deep breath and bit her lower lip before letting it spill out. “Because the only time in my life I ever felt really connected to someone was when I saw you on my fourth birthday. Then I started looking through things and...well...long story short I found this.” Quinn dug through her bag and pulled out the large envelope she'd stolen from her father's house and handed it across the table to Lily. The woman took it and immediately pulled out the papers, Quinn's birth certificate falling out and landing on the table.
Lily glanced at it for a moment before looking back to the stack of papers.
“It was the worst decision I ever made in giving you up,” she choked.
January, 1990
Thirteen-year-old Lily Hunter sat in her parents' lawyer's office awaiting the reading of their will. She knew where she would end up and was slightly terrified because her brother-in-law's home was completely different from how she had grown up. When she walked in to Russell Fabray's home with her parents each time there was always tension and an air of superiority radiating from the man.
Only now she wouldn't be able to escape it. One missed stop sign by a drunk driver and Lily's entire life was sent into a tailspin.
December, 1992
Lily sat on the bathroom floor of her sister's house listening to the sounds of Judy and Russell Fabray play with their daughter below her in the living room. She listened to the giggles of the young girl and the coos of her sister and brother-in-law. Lily wished more than ever in that moment that her parents were alive because she knew that they would be the only ones to love her unconditionally. She saw how Russell looked at her and she'd seen firsthand how controlling he could be in a subtle way. How her sister had gone from compassionate and kind to practically emotionless and spineless when it came to her husband.
And she knew what the reaction would be when they found out that she was eight weeks pregnant. She knew because its what she was told by Russell himself. That if she ever did anything to make him look bad in his rising career that, Judy's parents wishes be damned, Lily would be out of the house and completely cut off.
“Lily?” Judy's voice echoed in to Lily's room and the brunette wiped her tears and pushed herself up off the floor. It was now or never.
“Hi,” Lily whispered.
“Sweetie, dinner is almost ready. Come down and eat with us.”
“I need to tell you something.”
The fake smile dropped from her sister's face and Lily swallowed hard.
“I-I'm pregnant.”
Judy's mouth moved to say something but beside her, the door pushed open a little to reveal a very, very angry looking Russell.
“What?”
“I'm so sorry,” Lily pleaded. “I'm sorry. Please...”
“How dare you do this to me?” Russell growled. “After I took you in? I didn't have to let you live here you ungrateful brat!”
“Russ...”
“Thank God I got to you before the bad DNA took over, Judy. You,” he pointed at Lily, “get out of my house.”
“I don't have anywhere to go.”
“Russell wait.” Judy looked to Lily and back to her husband then back to Lily again with an almost reassuring gleam in her eyes. “I have an idea. We'll take the baby.”
“What? Why would we take an abomination?”
“You said yourself you wanted another one. It's perfect. No one would have to know.”
Lily furrowed her eyebrows and instinctively wrapped her arms around her lower stomach to protect her unborn child.
XXXXXXXXXX
It was the most insane idea that Lily had ever heard. Judy was going to fake a pregnancy to keep questions from being asked; Lily would be taken out of public school and homeschooled by Judy and get her GED. The Fabrays would pay for all of the doctors bills, prenatal care, clothes, everything. And when the day came, they would go home with the baby and Lily would leave. She threatened them enough with keeping the baby and letting everyone know of their sick plan that Russell eventually agreed to pay for the first four years of Lily's college education. It was like something out of a soap opera.
Despite the promises of her education, there were a few moments in her pregnancy where Lily contemplated telling Russell to go to hell and that she was keeping her baby away from his close-minded oppression. But she was constantly reminded that she had nowhere to go and no way she could possibly take care of a baby.
XXXXXXXXXX
“Push Lily!”
Lily gripped her sister's hand as she cried out and brought a beautiful baby girl into the world. The nurses were in awe as they cleaned the little girl up and placed her in Judy's arms. Lily watched from her bed, stretching to see. She saw a glimpse of her baby girl but Russell blocked her view and that was the last time she saw her until after she graduated. Every year for Christmas and Lucy's birthday, Lily would scrape together what she could and send a little something to the Fabrays. She had no idea if Lucy ever got the little gifts but she always hoped.
Coming to the Fabray house after she graduated was terrifying. Russell greeted her at the door and with a growled whisper and Judy told her that she had five minutes and that was it. After that they didn't ever want to see or hear from her again. They didn't want their daughter tainted with Lily's bad decisions. Lily agreed with a nod of the head but after she held Lucy in her arms for those few precious moments she knew she couldn't be away from her. She begged the Fabrays to let her be part of Lucy's life but they refused and cited the paperwork that Lily had signed stating that she wasn't allowed to come in contact without their permission and unless she was willing to pay them right then and there the cost of the pregnancy and her college education, that she was to leave and never come back.
With tears in her eyes, Lily passed off a little stuffed lamb to Judy. In return she got a pat on the shoulder and Judy slipping something into her pocket. Lily could do nothing but listen to the cries of her daughter as she walked out the front door of the house. When she got to her car she pulled what Judy had slipped her and found a picture of Lucy. It was all she would ever have.
Lily thought about trying to find her daughter every now and then but she knew that Russell was probably just as powerful and manipulative as he had been. And she knew that Lucy would probably never be told of her biological mother's existence. She went through the motions of life: she met her husband, Joel Forester, and got married right before they both started grad school. He went on to get his MD, Lily was happy with her PA. It was mutual that neither of them wanted children and it wasn't until after they were married that Lily finally told him about Lucy.
Joel was angry at first, understandably, but they eventually got through it and he promised his support in whatever might happen in the future.
The picture of four-year-old Lucy Quinn was tucked away safely in Lily's sock drawer and she would pull it out every Christmas and birthday, wondering what her baby girl was up to and how she had grown up. She was always on her mind. Always.
Quinn took a shuddered breath and felt Rachel squeeze her hand. Rachel leaned over and pecked Quinn on the cheek before standing up and walking toward the door with Santana and Brittany following.
“It was nice meeting you Mrs. Forester,” Rachel said.
“We'll be outside when you're ready, Q,” Santana whispered as she passed.
When the apartment door clicked shut, Quinn turned her attention back to Lily. The woman still had tears prickling her eyes which she attempted to blink back. After a few silent moments she got up and joined Quinn on the couch.
“You're so pretty,” Lily whispered. “When you were born all of the nurses were just...stunned.”
Quinn nodded.
“Is there...is there anything you want to know? I just...I want to know everything about you.”
“Well, we're a lot a like,” Quinn started. It just came out after that. She couldn't stop it. Everything from the day she first met Lily, every thought about her, every doubt about her own life. What her parents put her through before high school. Getting pregnant. Giving up Beth. The whole summer. Falling for Rachel...everything.
Almost an hour passed and by the time she was finished there were tears streaming and Lily was pulling her into a hug.
“Wow,” Lily said, shaking her head as she pulled away. “I don't think I've ever said that many words in one shot before. It's impressive.”
Quinn had to laugh through her tears and went back for another hug, the feeling of connection only strengthening with each touch. It wasn't at all what Rachel had described with Shelby.
“So Russell the God-fearing Catholic is an adulterer?”
“Mmhmm. I caught a glimpse of her when I...when we broke into his house. She's pretty much exactly like Mo-um...yeah. Like she told me she was.”
“You can call her 'mom', Lucy. She did raise you, you know?”
“Yeah, but...would you have sat by and watched me get thrown out when I got pregnant? You're...You mean something to me. A lot. I don't want this to be the only time I see you for sixteen years.”
“Nor do I, sweetie,” Lily said softly. “You have no idea how much I've wanted to just sit and talk with you. You're such an amazing young woman.”
Quinn ducked her head and smiled, the warmth of Lily's hand over her own appearing suddenly and the warmth spreading straight to Quinn's heart. It felt like something was being healed. Filled. It felt like unconditional love.
“Listen,” Lily said, “anytime you're in the area, anytime at all, I want to see you. You and your friends, anyone. You can stay for an hour or a week, I don't care. Just come see me again, okay?”
“What about your husband?”
“He'll understand. If you want to come spend a month here next summer, just tell me. We don't have a spare bedroom but both sofas pull out.”
“I'd like that,” Quinn managed to get out through the tears prickling her eyes.
“Sweetheart...”
Lily reached out to wipe away the tears but Quinn shook her head and sniffled a little bit, smiling as she reached up to dry her face.
“Happy tears,” she said. “I just...I was really hoping for this. Rachel's adopted and her reunion didn't really go so well.”
“I want you in my life,” Lily said sternly. “I always have. I just was too cowardly to stand up and do anything about it.”
“I guess that's a little bit of Fabray in me. I just do things.”
“It's not all bad.”
Quinn could only nod. She checked her watch and knew Santana was probably beyond impatience now and was probably torturing Rachel. Her small smile when she looked up told Lily that she had to go and Lily's eyes brimming with tears told Quinn that she understood.
“Your friends are waiting,” Lily said. “And I know Joel will understand but...”
“Yeah,” Quinn said. “I get it.”
“Does Judy know you're here?”
Quinn nodded. “She didn't say anything, but she knows. She...before I left she told me I look just like you. She called me by your name a few times, even.”
“Can you tell her I love her?”
Quinn nodded. “Yeah, I'll tell her.”
With shaking knees, Quinn stood, her body almost rejecting moving toward the door. Her heart leaving behind another piece with Lily. Lily walked her to the door slowly; before she opened it she dug through the purse sitting on the table inside the door to pull out a business card and a pen. She scribbled a few things on the back of the card and handed it to Quinn - on the card were phone numbers and Lily's e-mail address.
“I guess I'll see you again sometime,” Quinn mumbled.
“I don't want you to leave, either, sweetie.”
Quinn lunged forward for one last hug, the business card clutched in her hand with the small piece of paper containing Lily's address. Lily's arms around her felt more safe and secure than any time either her mother or father had ever hugged her and for Quinn, it was one of the two places she felt like she belonged anymore. In Lily's arms and in Rachel's.
“I love you so much,” Lily whispered.
Quinn choked back a sob and whispered, “I love you, too.”
“Remember what I said. You're welcome here any time.”
“I know,” Quinn said with a nod. “Thank you.”
“It's the least I can do for you.”
With a nod, Quinn opened the door and stepped into the hallway. She put her hand up in a wave to Lily and got one in return before the door clicked shut and Quinn was left alone again. She made her way to the elevator and down to the building lobby where she saw her girlfriend and two best friends in the seating area: Rachel with a magazine and Santana with her head on Brittany's lap sound asleep.
Rachel's face lit up when she saw Quinn and she immediately dropped the magazine to dash to and hug her girlfriend.
“How'd it go?” Rachel asked.
“Amazing,” Quinn said with a genuine smile. “She wants me to come see her anytime. She even mentioned spending a few weeks next summer if I wanted to.”
Rachel nodded furiously and lurched up to hug Quinn again before wrapping an arm around her waist and leading her to the seating area where Santana had roused and Brittany was smiling brightly.
“Can we go now?” Santana growled. “I'm missing a Law & Order marathon.”
“Thanks for being so patient,” Quinn said with a small smile. “And coming with me.”
“Whatever. You're a shit driver and I didn't want you and Berry going up in flames. We at least need her to win Nationals.”
“I love you too, Santana.”
“Shut up, Berry.”
The foursome made their way out of the building and were headed down the street where they had parked when Quinn heard her name, well, 'Lucy', being shouted. She looked around several times before Rachel tapped her on the shoulder and pointed up.
“Lucy!” Lily shouted from the balcony. “Don't forget to add me on Facebook!”
Quinn laughed and gave a thumbs up before waving and turning back to Rachel - who had a triumphant smirk on her face.
“I told you everyone had a Facebook.”
Appearing Characters: The Fabray Family: Russell Fabray, Judy (Hunter) Fabray, Mr. and Mrs. Fabray [Russell's parents], The Eldest Fabray Daughter, Lucy Quinn Fabray
Surviving Hunter Family: Lily Hunter [Judy's younger sister]
Lucy Quinn's Friends: Rachel Berry, Santana Lopez, and Brittany Pierce
Rachel's Two Gay Dads: Leroy and Hiram Berry
Pairings: Rachel/Lucy Quinn, side Santana/Brittany, mentions past Rachel/Finn
Rating: PG-13 this chapter, NC-17 overall
Length: ~30,600 words
Summary: Lucy Quinn Fabray's life has been filled with secrets and forbidden memories. The summer before her senior year she takes it in to her own hands (with a little nudging from one Rachel Berry) to solve the questions that no one will answer. Santana Lopez and Brittany Pierce join her in the journey that leads down a path no one expected to a door that will change everything Quinn ever knew about herself.
Previous Chapters: [Chapter 1] [Chapter 2] [Chapter 3] [Chapter 4] [Chapter 5]
[Chapter 6] [Chapter 7] [Chapter 8] [Chapter 9]
-Chapter 10-
The apartment complex looked nice from the outside, fairly modern. Quinn took a few shaking breaths before she pressed the button to 322, still clutching the scrap of paper in her hand. As she waited she took a glance behind her; Rachel was only a few steps away, Santana and Brittany were standing on the sidewalk - Santana filing her nails and Brittany giving a reassuring smile.
“Can I help you?”
Quinn jumped, the soft feminine voice on the other line making her smile yet shake with nervousness.
“Lily Hunter?”
“Hunter is my maiden name, yes. Who are you?”
“I-I'm...It's...” Quinn took a deep breath and turned back to Rachel who only smiled and nodded. “Qu-Lucy. Lucy Fabray.”
There was silence and, for a moment, Quinn feared the worst. At least until she heard the buzzer sound to let her in. Rachel dashed to her side as she opened the door and Santana and Brittany followed close behind.
When Quinn raised an eyebrow at the sudden appearance of Santana's hand on her shoulder she got a smirk in return.
“She might be a serial killer or something,” Santana said with an eyeroll. “I mean, you share DNA and you're kind of psycho.”
“Thanks, Santana.”
The trio made their way to the bank of elevators and up to the third floor. It felt like the world was going in slow motion to Quinn but in a matter of seconds she was staring at a door with brass numbers reading “322”. It was Brittany who reached up and knocked on the door seeing as how one of Quinn's hands was clutched tightly in Rachel's and the other practically pinned to her side with how close Santana had gotten to her.
It barely took three seconds before the door was open and Quinn was staring straight into stormy grey-blue eyes and chestnut brown hair framing Lily's face and cascading down her shoulders.
“Lucy...” It came as a whisper but it was all it took for Quinn to lunge forward and be taken into Lily's arms. The almost-forgotten familiarity of Lily's arms around her felt amazing. It felt warm. It felt like everything Quinn thought it would be. She gripped tight to Lily's back and let a sob escape into the woman's shoulder.
“It's okay sweetie,” Lily whispered.
“Sorry,” Quinn said, pulling away and sniffling. “It's...yeah.”
Lily nodded and stepped aside, opening the door and motioning for all four girls to enter her apartment. The main area was one large room with a kitchen to the right and a seating area sunken into the floor. The outside wall was nothing but glass letting sunlight in. A quick glance around told Quinn right away that Lily had no other children but a large black and white portrait on the wall showed Lily and her husband. On either side of the portrait were framed college degrees, both with Lily's name on them.
“You're a doctor?” Santana quipped, inspecting the certificates.
“Physician's assistant,” Lily replied. “I work at the children's hospital. Would any of you like something to drink?”
All four girls shook their heads and followed Lily to the seating area where they all managed to fit on one of the black leather sofas with Lily in a matching chair across the coffee table.
“I'm sorry that I just...showed up,” Quinn said. “But I didn't know what else to do.”
“It's alright,” Lily said with a smile. “More than alright. I just can't believe you found me.”
“It wasn't easy,” Rachel chimed in. “Weeks of research and sleuthing coupled with obstacles and disappointments...it was rather taxing.”
Quinn felt a hand on hers and knew Rachel was looking at her but didn't dare take her eyes off of Lily for fear that the woman might just disappear into nothingness as she had in so many dreams.
“But it was worth it or whatever.” Santana shrugged.
“Who are you, exactly?”
“Oh, right,” Quinn said. She tore her eyes away from Lily to look to her right at Brittany and Santana.
“Brittany and Santana, my best friends.”
And then to her left where Rachel's glowing smile made the corners of Quinn's mouth tug upward.
“And my girlfriend, Rachel.”
Quinn turned back to Lily whose expression wasn't entirely shocked but still a little startled. She tucked her lower lip between her teeth and squeezed Rachel's hand a little.
“They helped me find you.”
Lily nodded. “So...why did you want to find me?”
Quinn took a deep breath and bit her lower lip before letting it spill out. “Because the only time in my life I ever felt really connected to someone was when I saw you on my fourth birthday. Then I started looking through things and...well...long story short I found this.” Quinn dug through her bag and pulled out the large envelope she'd stolen from her father's house and handed it across the table to Lily. The woman took it and immediately pulled out the papers, Quinn's birth certificate falling out and landing on the table.
Lily glanced at it for a moment before looking back to the stack of papers.
“It was the worst decision I ever made in giving you up,” she choked.
January, 1990
Thirteen-year-old Lily Hunter sat in her parents' lawyer's office awaiting the reading of their will. She knew where she would end up and was slightly terrified because her brother-in-law's home was completely different from how she had grown up. When she walked in to Russell Fabray's home with her parents each time there was always tension and an air of superiority radiating from the man.
Only now she wouldn't be able to escape it. One missed stop sign by a drunk driver and Lily's entire life was sent into a tailspin.
December, 1992
Lily sat on the bathroom floor of her sister's house listening to the sounds of Judy and Russell Fabray play with their daughter below her in the living room. She listened to the giggles of the young girl and the coos of her sister and brother-in-law. Lily wished more than ever in that moment that her parents were alive because she knew that they would be the only ones to love her unconditionally. She saw how Russell looked at her and she'd seen firsthand how controlling he could be in a subtle way. How her sister had gone from compassionate and kind to practically emotionless and spineless when it came to her husband.
And she knew what the reaction would be when they found out that she was eight weeks pregnant. She knew because its what she was told by Russell himself. That if she ever did anything to make him look bad in his rising career that, Judy's parents wishes be damned, Lily would be out of the house and completely cut off.
“Lily?” Judy's voice echoed in to Lily's room and the brunette wiped her tears and pushed herself up off the floor. It was now or never.
“Hi,” Lily whispered.
“Sweetie, dinner is almost ready. Come down and eat with us.”
“I need to tell you something.”
The fake smile dropped from her sister's face and Lily swallowed hard.
“I-I'm pregnant.”
Judy's mouth moved to say something but beside her, the door pushed open a little to reveal a very, very angry looking Russell.
“What?”
“I'm so sorry,” Lily pleaded. “I'm sorry. Please...”
“How dare you do this to me?” Russell growled. “After I took you in? I didn't have to let you live here you ungrateful brat!”
“Russ...”
“Thank God I got to you before the bad DNA took over, Judy. You,” he pointed at Lily, “get out of my house.”
“I don't have anywhere to go.”
“Russell wait.” Judy looked to Lily and back to her husband then back to Lily again with an almost reassuring gleam in her eyes. “I have an idea. We'll take the baby.”
“What? Why would we take an abomination?”
“You said yourself you wanted another one. It's perfect. No one would have to know.”
Lily furrowed her eyebrows and instinctively wrapped her arms around her lower stomach to protect her unborn child.
XXXXXXXXXX
It was the most insane idea that Lily had ever heard. Judy was going to fake a pregnancy to keep questions from being asked; Lily would be taken out of public school and homeschooled by Judy and get her GED. The Fabrays would pay for all of the doctors bills, prenatal care, clothes, everything. And when the day came, they would go home with the baby and Lily would leave. She threatened them enough with keeping the baby and letting everyone know of their sick plan that Russell eventually agreed to pay for the first four years of Lily's college education. It was like something out of a soap opera.
Despite the promises of her education, there were a few moments in her pregnancy where Lily contemplated telling Russell to go to hell and that she was keeping her baby away from his close-minded oppression. But she was constantly reminded that she had nowhere to go and no way she could possibly take care of a baby.
XXXXXXXXXX
“Push Lily!”
Lily gripped her sister's hand as she cried out and brought a beautiful baby girl into the world. The nurses were in awe as they cleaned the little girl up and placed her in Judy's arms. Lily watched from her bed, stretching to see. She saw a glimpse of her baby girl but Russell blocked her view and that was the last time she saw her until after she graduated. Every year for Christmas and Lucy's birthday, Lily would scrape together what she could and send a little something to the Fabrays. She had no idea if Lucy ever got the little gifts but she always hoped.
Coming to the Fabray house after she graduated was terrifying. Russell greeted her at the door and with a growled whisper and Judy told her that she had five minutes and that was it. After that they didn't ever want to see or hear from her again. They didn't want their daughter tainted with Lily's bad decisions. Lily agreed with a nod of the head but after she held Lucy in her arms for those few precious moments she knew she couldn't be away from her. She begged the Fabrays to let her be part of Lucy's life but they refused and cited the paperwork that Lily had signed stating that she wasn't allowed to come in contact without their permission and unless she was willing to pay them right then and there the cost of the pregnancy and her college education, that she was to leave and never come back.
With tears in her eyes, Lily passed off a little stuffed lamb to Judy. In return she got a pat on the shoulder and Judy slipping something into her pocket. Lily could do nothing but listen to the cries of her daughter as she walked out the front door of the house. When she got to her car she pulled what Judy had slipped her and found a picture of Lucy. It was all she would ever have.
Lily thought about trying to find her daughter every now and then but she knew that Russell was probably just as powerful and manipulative as he had been. And she knew that Lucy would probably never be told of her biological mother's existence. She went through the motions of life: she met her husband, Joel Forester, and got married right before they both started grad school. He went on to get his MD, Lily was happy with her PA. It was mutual that neither of them wanted children and it wasn't until after they were married that Lily finally told him about Lucy.
Joel was angry at first, understandably, but they eventually got through it and he promised his support in whatever might happen in the future.
The picture of four-year-old Lucy Quinn was tucked away safely in Lily's sock drawer and she would pull it out every Christmas and birthday, wondering what her baby girl was up to and how she had grown up. She was always on her mind. Always.
Quinn took a shuddered breath and felt Rachel squeeze her hand. Rachel leaned over and pecked Quinn on the cheek before standing up and walking toward the door with Santana and Brittany following.
“It was nice meeting you Mrs. Forester,” Rachel said.
“We'll be outside when you're ready, Q,” Santana whispered as she passed.
When the apartment door clicked shut, Quinn turned her attention back to Lily. The woman still had tears prickling her eyes which she attempted to blink back. After a few silent moments she got up and joined Quinn on the couch.
“You're so pretty,” Lily whispered. “When you were born all of the nurses were just...stunned.”
Quinn nodded.
“Is there...is there anything you want to know? I just...I want to know everything about you.”
“Well, we're a lot a like,” Quinn started. It just came out after that. She couldn't stop it. Everything from the day she first met Lily, every thought about her, every doubt about her own life. What her parents put her through before high school. Getting pregnant. Giving up Beth. The whole summer. Falling for Rachel...everything.
Almost an hour passed and by the time she was finished there were tears streaming and Lily was pulling her into a hug.
“Wow,” Lily said, shaking her head as she pulled away. “I don't think I've ever said that many words in one shot before. It's impressive.”
Quinn had to laugh through her tears and went back for another hug, the feeling of connection only strengthening with each touch. It wasn't at all what Rachel had described with Shelby.
“So Russell the God-fearing Catholic is an adulterer?”
“Mmhmm. I caught a glimpse of her when I...when we broke into his house. She's pretty much exactly like Mo-um...yeah. Like she told me she was.”
“You can call her 'mom', Lucy. She did raise you, you know?”
“Yeah, but...would you have sat by and watched me get thrown out when I got pregnant? You're...You mean something to me. A lot. I don't want this to be the only time I see you for sixteen years.”
“Nor do I, sweetie,” Lily said softly. “You have no idea how much I've wanted to just sit and talk with you. You're such an amazing young woman.”
Quinn ducked her head and smiled, the warmth of Lily's hand over her own appearing suddenly and the warmth spreading straight to Quinn's heart. It felt like something was being healed. Filled. It felt like unconditional love.
“Listen,” Lily said, “anytime you're in the area, anytime at all, I want to see you. You and your friends, anyone. You can stay for an hour or a week, I don't care. Just come see me again, okay?”
“What about your husband?”
“He'll understand. If you want to come spend a month here next summer, just tell me. We don't have a spare bedroom but both sofas pull out.”
“I'd like that,” Quinn managed to get out through the tears prickling her eyes.
“Sweetheart...”
Lily reached out to wipe away the tears but Quinn shook her head and sniffled a little bit, smiling as she reached up to dry her face.
“Happy tears,” she said. “I just...I was really hoping for this. Rachel's adopted and her reunion didn't really go so well.”
“I want you in my life,” Lily said sternly. “I always have. I just was too cowardly to stand up and do anything about it.”
“I guess that's a little bit of Fabray in me. I just do things.”
“It's not all bad.”
Quinn could only nod. She checked her watch and knew Santana was probably beyond impatience now and was probably torturing Rachel. Her small smile when she looked up told Lily that she had to go and Lily's eyes brimming with tears told Quinn that she understood.
“Your friends are waiting,” Lily said. “And I know Joel will understand but...”
“Yeah,” Quinn said. “I get it.”
“Does Judy know you're here?”
Quinn nodded. “She didn't say anything, but she knows. She...before I left she told me I look just like you. She called me by your name a few times, even.”
“Can you tell her I love her?”
Quinn nodded. “Yeah, I'll tell her.”
With shaking knees, Quinn stood, her body almost rejecting moving toward the door. Her heart leaving behind another piece with Lily. Lily walked her to the door slowly; before she opened it she dug through the purse sitting on the table inside the door to pull out a business card and a pen. She scribbled a few things on the back of the card and handed it to Quinn - on the card were phone numbers and Lily's e-mail address.
“I guess I'll see you again sometime,” Quinn mumbled.
“I don't want you to leave, either, sweetie.”
Quinn lunged forward for one last hug, the business card clutched in her hand with the small piece of paper containing Lily's address. Lily's arms around her felt more safe and secure than any time either her mother or father had ever hugged her and for Quinn, it was one of the two places she felt like she belonged anymore. In Lily's arms and in Rachel's.
“I love you so much,” Lily whispered.
Quinn choked back a sob and whispered, “I love you, too.”
“Remember what I said. You're welcome here any time.”
“I know,” Quinn said with a nod. “Thank you.”
“It's the least I can do for you.”
With a nod, Quinn opened the door and stepped into the hallway. She put her hand up in a wave to Lily and got one in return before the door clicked shut and Quinn was left alone again. She made her way to the elevator and down to the building lobby where she saw her girlfriend and two best friends in the seating area: Rachel with a magazine and Santana with her head on Brittany's lap sound asleep.
Rachel's face lit up when she saw Quinn and she immediately dropped the magazine to dash to and hug her girlfriend.
“How'd it go?” Rachel asked.
“Amazing,” Quinn said with a genuine smile. “She wants me to come see her anytime. She even mentioned spending a few weeks next summer if I wanted to.”
Rachel nodded furiously and lurched up to hug Quinn again before wrapping an arm around her waist and leading her to the seating area where Santana had roused and Brittany was smiling brightly.
“Can we go now?” Santana growled. “I'm missing a Law & Order marathon.”
“Thanks for being so patient,” Quinn said with a small smile. “And coming with me.”
“Whatever. You're a shit driver and I didn't want you and Berry going up in flames. We at least need her to win Nationals.”
“I love you too, Santana.”
“Shut up, Berry.”
The foursome made their way out of the building and were headed down the street where they had parked when Quinn heard her name, well, 'Lucy', being shouted. She looked around several times before Rachel tapped her on the shoulder and pointed up.
“Lucy!” Lily shouted from the balcony. “Don't forget to add me on Facebook!”
Quinn laughed and gave a thumbs up before waving and turning back to Rachel - who had a triumphant smirk on her face.
“I told you everyone had a Facebook.”