A/N: Okay so first of all, this fic is NOT historically accurate in the slightest. Apologies if that doesn't work for some people but if this was historically accurate, half of the plot points in this fic wouldn't work anyway. Secondly, this is a Faberry/Brittana fic but Quinn and Brittany will be set up to wed so there will be 'romantic' interaction between the two of them. Hope you enjoy, and review if you so please! Title from Ed Sheeran's song 'Kiss Me'
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This was Frannie's fault.
Frannie had been the next in line for the throne. Frannie was the first born, it was her birth right. If Frannie hadn't fallen for that boy and ran off into the sunset, Quinn would not be here now, pleading with her father to put someone else, anyone else at the seat of the throne.
Her father, Russell Fabray, king of Lima, wants her to rule his kingdom when he passes; soon, according to his doctors. Her mother argues that they should find Frannie, drag her back. She feels her mother's hand on her shoulder, "Look at her," Judy hisses, "She can barely stomach the idea of ruling, and you would have her Queen within a month?"
Russell clamps his hands together tightly and stares at Quinn, "She will make a wonderful Queen," He says firmly, "With a little help"
Judy shakes her head and for once, Quinn agrees with the little faith her mother has in her, "Father, I-I can't" She stammers, "You want me to be… Queen?"
Russell sighs tiredly, "My time is almost over," He says, "My health is diminishing quickly, Quinn. I need a strong ruler who can keep this kingdom from running itself into the ground; I know you can do that"
"I can't" Quinn asserts heatedly, "Father, I just can't"
Russell sighs and moves to stand, gesturing a servant to help, "Find me when you have found a little faith in yourself Quinn," He says sternly, "I shall need to go over my basic rules and responsibilities with you"
She huffs and sinks back into her chair as her father and his attendants leave the room. Judy tuts disapprovingly and moves to follow, as Quinn hides her face in her hands. She feels warm hands on the back of her neck and then a pair of lips to her cheek and glances back to meet the smiling face of her maiden.
Rachel Berry. Rachel is, in short, the prettiest girl Quinn has ever met. Her hair is dark and falls in curls around her shoulders, her eyes warm like chocolate buttons. Their first meeting had consisted of her mother introducing Rachel as her personal maiden, followed by Rachel spilling orange juice all down Quinn's front. Somewhere in the midst of Rachel's hysterical panic and spiels of tearful apologies, Quinn had kissed her.
And had kept kissing her ever since.
"Rach," She sighs, leaning back, "I can't do this"
Rachel squeezes her shoulders lightly, "You can do anything" She says adoringly.
Quinn sighs, "Rach, I can't rule an entire kingdom- this was never supposed to be my job—"
"But it is now" Rachel says firmly, "What are you going to do? Step up or shy away?"
She pauses and takes the moment to turn in her seat and take Rachel's hands in her own, "If I rule," She says solemnly, "We can never be together. Not for real"
Rachel shifts slightly and smiles weakly, "Quinn, you're a princess. I'm a servant. Did you ever think we could be together for real anyway?"
Quinn turns her head and frowns at the table. She knows the circumstances of her relationship with Rachel aren't traditional when it came to her family's perception of love. She needs to make Rachel see.
"They'll make me be with someone else," She urges, "I'll have to marry a man"
She feels Rachel tense and squeezes her hands gently, "Maybe we could run away"
Rachel head snaps up, "Quinn," She admonishes, "Don't even joke about it"
"Why not?" Quinn challenges, "There's nothing for me here. I don't want to be wife of some arrogent man , I want to be with you"
Rachel twists her hands from Quinn's grip, "Stop," She says fiercely, "If someone heard you…"
"What if they do?"
"You are to be Queen soon!" Rachel hisses, "Enough with this talk of leaving. You are royalty. Do you really think your father would let another one of his daughters run away?"
Quinn studies her, brushes a hand across her rosy cheek, "If I did leave," She says softly, "Would you come with me?"
Rachel bites her lip, glances quickly at the door. She sags under Quinn's touch, "You know I would" She says quietly.
Quinn beams, "I'll talk to my father right away"
She stands and presses a swift kiss to Rachel's cheek and leaves the room, a spluttering Rachel behind her.
-
The castle is huge, Russell Fabray's quarters at the very centre. Quinn manages to navigate her way around and convince Rachel to wait outside while she talks to her father.
He sits at his desk as Quinn saunters in and slaps a hand down on the desk, "I will not be Queen," She announces, "You'll have to find someone else, father"
Russell's face creases into a frown, "Don't be preposterous," He says, "There is no one else,"
"Then let mother rule," She says impatiently, "One of the cousins, the town butcher, I don't care. I am leaving town tonight"
"Absolutely not" Russell says sharply, standing, "You take one step outside these gates and I'll have you arrested and keep in custody"
"You have no right," She starts furiously.
"I have every right" Russell spits angrily, "I have divine right. You are the daughter of a king, you shall be Queen"
Quinn stares him down, her stomach twisting. She'll have to try a new tactic. Rachel crosses her mind suddenly.
"Father, I cannot rule," She states boldly and watches as he shakes his head, "You will rule, Quinn"
"Father, I cannot rule" Quinn reiterates, "Because our family line would die with me"
Russell raises his eyebrows, "Oh?"
She folds her arms defensively, and prepares herself for the blow. She doesn't care what he does– she will not be with a man. Not in this lifetime. "I will never bear a child," She continues with a heavy breath, "Because I will never participate in the necessary practice required to conceive one"
Russell frowns, "What are you saying Quinn? Do you wish to remain celibate forever?"
"No sir," She says quickly, "What I mean is... I will never... be intimate in that way with a male"
Like a true Fabray, Russell lets no emotion pass through his stony expression and so Quinn continues.
"I am enamoured with women, Father. The same as you. I shall not marry a man but love a woman. I will not wed her, for the kingdom deems this unlawful, we will not have children, but each other and I hope you can find it within you to be happy for me when that time comes"
Russell says nothing for a moment as Quinn prepares herself to be thrown out – perhaps her father will be kind and let her take enough gold to ride to the nearest city. She and Rachel could take refuge in Akron, perhaps save enough gold for a cottage. Giddily, she thinks there's no way her father would want her to rule now.
"Lucien, fetch my advisors," Russell says, not taking his eyes off of her, "Tell them to draw up a law that allows members of the same sex to wed"
Quinn's head snaps up.
"I want it done tonight," Russell orders, "And then draw up a list of Dukes with single daughters – weed out anyone that is not up to standard, there will nothing but the best for Quinn"
"Father, what are you doing?" Quinn hisses as Lucien bows in response.
"You are the future of this kingdom, Quinn" Russell says, "You will rule. I do not care if a man or woman stands by your side while you do so"
He looks down at his parchment and scribbles a note as Quinn gapes, "Do you have a preference?"
"W-what?"
"A preference. Would you like her to be blonde? Brunette? Tall? Short?"
"Father, you can't do this"
"No preference then?"
"Father, you can't just write laws of this... of this degree! What will the people say?"
"The people will love and support their future Queen," Russell says sharply, "Or they will pay the price"
He slams his folder shut and squeezes her shoulder gently, "You are a Fabray," He says sternly, "Born to rule. Born to lead. If you need a woman by your side to do so, then I shall make it happen"
With a smile, he gives Quinn's shoulder a last pat, and stalks towards the exit.