Do You Believe in Magic?
Chapter One
Summary: AU: Quinn Fabray needed an escape from her life in Lima so she goes on a road trip and ends up in Storybrooke, Maine where she met and was captivated by one of its townspeople. What will happen when they met? Will this person be the reason Quinn stays or leaves? Will they have the fairytale ending?
"Is it worth it, let me work it…I put my thing down, flip it and reverse it…I put my thing down, flip it and reverse it…"
Quinn Fabray rapped as she drove along an isolated state highway. She was preoccupied and didn't know that she was indeed speeding. Quinn just needed to escape her life…escape Lima…just escape. She had so many thoughts running rapid in her mind.
Why didn't Santana pick me?! I can't believe their married…I can't believe that I didn't attend the wedding. Oh God how pissed is Santana gonna be?
Quinn shrugged her shoulders.
What's done is done, right?
They're going to be happy no matter what and that's what matters the most…right?
Anyway, Quinn was now driving down the highway totally oblivious to her surrounding and the town signs.
She slumped back in the seat. To say that Quinn was totally out of it was an understatement. That is until she crossed the town lines. As her old blue, Volkswaggon Beetle crossed the line, she felt an electric bolt rush through her body.
"What the fuck?" Quinn cursed and shook her upper body.
She looked in the rearview mirror and fiddled with her hair for the briefest second before returning her concentration to her driving.
As she drove further into the town she peered through her windows.
"This is a quaint town," she told herself, "Maybe I should find a hotel room and crash here for the night at least."
As she drove she looked for a hotel or an inn. She quickly saw "Granny's Bed & Breakfast". She pulled off the road, into the parking lot. She parked a parking space and turned off her car. She got out of the car and took her suitcase out of her trunk. She walked towards the building and entered it.
"Hello," Quinn yelled a little. There was no one at the front desk.
Ding! Quinn hit the small bell on the counter.
Ding! She hit it again.
Quinn looked around and then noticed the entrance to another part of the large building. She pushed opened the door and walked through. As she was about to speak everyone who was in the room immediately stopped what they were doing and gawked at her. Quinn felt awkward so she meekly waved her free hand.
"Um, honey, can I help you," an older woman timidly asked Quinn as she approached.
"Uh, yeah, I was hoping to get a room for at least tonight. I hope you can help me," Quinn nervously brushed a strand of blonde hair off of her forehead.
"Oh, sure, dear, follow me," the woman said, "I'm Granny…"
"Do you have a first name," Quinn said shyly.
"Yep, but everyone calls me 'Granny'!" they walked back into the hotel lobby and up to the front desk.
"Ok, how much for the night?" Quinn said as she pulled her credit card from her small wallet.
"Ten…"
"Ten? Ten what?" Quinn asked shocked.
"Uh, ten dollars, dear," Granny said with a warm smile.
"Wow, that's cheap! Do you accept credit cards," Quinn tried to hand Granny the credit card, but was stopped.
"Yes, but you can settle this tomorrow….Restaurant's open till 8pm every night. Check out is at 12. If you wanna stay longer just let me know and I'll set it up," Granny said with a smile.
She handed Quinn a key and pointed up the stairs. "Number 5, all the way down."
Quinn accepted the key and walked to the staircase. In her peripheral vision she saw a short man walk up and to Granny and whisper something into her ear. Quinn saw her shrug her shoulders.
Once on the top floor, Quinn sighed. "Just for the night!"
At her hotel room, she opened the door and entered her suite.
"Nice," she commented lazily. Quinn placed her suitcase on the bed and put her purse next to it. She heard her phone chirped with a text message.
She opened the phone and looked at it.
Hey, Quinnie, did you forget what yesterday was? Where were you? Britt
Quinn sighed and tossed the phone back on the bed. She walked over to the curtains and opened them to let the sunlight shine in brightly. Quinn saw the Clock Tower, which looked kind of fake to her. She saw the small library. She saw Gold's Pawn Shop.
Suddenly her stomach gurgled to signal that she needed to eat. She grabbed her purse and hotel room key to headed for the door. She figured after she ate something she'd walk around the town.
She descended down the stairs and into the restaurant. They were still many people there. She found an empty booth in the back and sat down. In a few minutes, a tall waitress walked up to her and asked, "Hi, I'm Ruby. How are you today?"
Good question! Do you want the long or short version?
Quinn nodded her head and said, "Good. How are you? I'm Quinn!"
Ruby smiled. "Good, can I get you something to drink, Quinn?"
"Do ya have Coke?"
Ruby nodded her head, yes.
"One Coke for now," Quinn said and watched Ruby scurry away.
"Hmm," Quinn said and smirked.
After a teenaged boy walked over to the table.
"Hello," he said.
"Hey," Quinn replied, "What's your name?"
"Henry, what's yours," he said and extended his hand out.
"Henry, I'm Quinn," she said and shook Henry's hand.
"Nice to meet you," he said and pointed to the empty side of the booth. Quinn nodded with a smile and Henry slid in.
"So what brings you to Storybrooke?"
"Um, needed some air," Quinn said.
Henry immediately knew what she meant. "Say no more," Henry said with a warm smile.
"Wow…you're mature for you age. Do you work? Married? Kids?'" Quinn joked.
Henry laughed, but said, "I live here with my Moms…"
"Moms?"
"Um, yeah…long story," he said, nervously.
"Well, if I'm around long enough I'd love to hear it. Question, Henry," Quinn said as she leaned forward a little. So did Henry.
"Shoot, Quinn!"
"Why's everyone staring at me," Quinn asked.
Henry nonchalantly looked around. As he did, he saw some people duck their heads down.
"They, um, are just curious. We don't get many visitors 'round here," Henry said, smiled and sat back against the seat.
Just then, Ruby returned with the Coke and Quinn gave Ruby her order.
"It'll be a few minutes."
"Well, I got to go check in with my Mom. It was nice to meet you, Quinn. I hope our paths cross again while you're here," Henry said as he waved his hand and left Quinn at the table.
"He's nice," she said to herself.
While Quinn waited she scanned the restaurant and made eye contact with some of the patrons. There was one gentleman who looked like he was going to walk up to her, but Ruby came with her order. Quinn saw the guy turn around.
"Are you heading somewhere?"
"Yeah," Quinn said.
"Oh, where," Ruby asked.
Another good question. I don't know.
"Honestly, I don't know for certain," Quinn said as she shrugged her shoulders, "I just had to get out of the place I was in. ya know?"
"Yea, I think I do," she said, "It looks like you really don't want to talk about it."
"Geez, am I that transparent," Quinn said with a smile. Ruby tried to apologize.
"It's alright," Quinn said.
"Oh, good, enjoy your meal," Ruby said and sauntered away.
As Quinn ate her meal, the people went back to life as usual.
Ding!
The front door to the restaurant opened. Quinn didn't think to look up from her tuna salad. She heard the clicking of heels against the tile. Then clicking stopped. Quinn looked up for a brief second and only saw the woman's back so she returned to her lunch.
Suddenly the clicking began again and got closer and closer to her booth where it stopped again.
"Excuse me, Miss…" The strong, womanly voice made Quinn take notice.
Quinn looked up to see who was standing there.
"Yes," Quinn said. Immediately, hazel eyes met brown ones.
"Uh, hello," the woman said caught off guard.
"H-hello," Quinn said as she began to get up from the seat.
"Oh, no please sit down," the woman said.
"Did I do something wrong?"
Stupid question, Quinn. No wonder Santana didn't choose you.
"Oh, no dear. I…" the woman started, but was preoccupied with Quinn's beauty. She also sensed that the woman was struggling with something.
"Would you like to sit down," Quinn asked shyly.
The woman quickly plopped down into the booth.
Quinn laughed. "So are you the welcoming committee or something?"
"You could say that! I'm actually the…."
Ruby chose that moment to check on Quinn. "Everything okay?"
Quinn saw the woman give Ruby an evil stare.
"Could I get another Coke, Ruby?"
"Sure, Quinn," Ruby said and walked away.
"So, I'm Quinn, and you are," she said and extended her hand out.
The woman looked at Quinn's hand for a few seconds. Finally she said, "I'm Regina Mills…Mayor Regina Mills!" The woman grabbed Quinn's extended hand and forcibly shook it.
"Oh, oh," Quinn got nervous, "Excuse me, I mean no disrespect! What do I do? Bow? Curtsy? Kiss your ring?"
Regina looked at Quinn seriously, almost menacingly. Then she smiled brightly and began to laugh hysterically. "Ah, Quinn," Regina said through her laughter. "That made my day. Thank you."
"Seriously, I am sorry. I had no idea."
"Don't worry about it. You just got here, what, two hours ago. I'll let it slide."
Quinn calmed down a lot. "So you're the mayor?"
"Is that so hard to believe?"
"Oh, no, ma'am…geez, I gotta stop putting my foot in my mouth."
"You're adorable," Regina said without thinking. Quinn looked her with a smile.
"Uh, I mean, you're so…nice and, um, new…"
"May I ask you a question, Madame Mayor," Quinn asked politely.
"Regina, but yes?"
"Would you please give me a tour of….what town am I in? I forgot…"
Regina chuckled and said, "Storybrooke…Storybrooke, Maine, dear," Regina said.
When Quinn saw Regina rise up from the booth she followed her. Quinn walked over to the counter to pay. "How much, Ruby?"
"You're staying here, right? Duh, you have to! It'll be on your tab when you leave. "Do you still want the soda?" Ruby asked with a cautious smile on her face. Quinn picked up on it and winked so she would know that Quinn knew what she was doing.
"Yes, could I have a lid," Quinn asked with a warm smile.
"Sure…anything for you, um, Regina," Ruby asked shyly.
"Can I get a hot chocolate," she said. Ruby nodded her head and prepared the drink.
While they waited, Regina surveyed the restaurant and Quinn watched her do it. "You seem, I don't know, feared, by the townspeople here…why is it?"
"Long story…long history…"
"Oh," Quinn said shyly again. Regina noticed this and placed her hand on Quinn's. She couldn't be sure, but Quinn was certain that she felt the bolt from earlier.
What the fuck is that?
Before she had more time to think Ruby came back to the counter.
"Put that on my tab," Quinn immediately said.
"Thank you, Quinn," Regina said.
"It's nothing. You're taking time out of your schedule…"
"It's nothing…ready?"
"Sure, thanks Ruby," Quinn said and left her a generous tip.
Once Regina and Quinn were outside, they leisurely walked around. Regina pointed out the various landmarks like the Clock Tower.
'Wanna go in?" Regina asked.
"Sure…never been in a real clock tower before!"
Regina reached for the door and held it open for Quinn, who said, "Thank you, Madame Mayor!"
Regina just chuckled and shrugged her shoulders.
Once at the top, Regina asked, "Where are you from, Quinn?"
"Lima," Quinn said dryly.
"Where's that," Regina asked.
"Ohio," Quinn answered.
"Oh, do you miss it?'
Before Quinn had the chance to answer the question, the bells sounded signaling a new hour. It startled Quinn.
"I'm sorry," Regina yelled over the noise as they covered their ears.
"Whoa, sure is loud," Quinn chuckled.
Regina grabbed her arm and pulled her down the stairs and away from the noise.
"Is that better, dear?" Regina asked and Quinn noticed the sincerity in her voice.
"Y…yes, thank you."
They walked around in silence as they enjoyed the comfort that the silence brought with it. Regina finished her hot chocolate around the time Quinn finished her soda. Regina extended her hand for her cup. Regina throw away the cups.
After they continued to walk around. They went to the docks and just stood at the railing for a few minutes.
"Hmm," Quinn sighed contently.
Regina stole a glance at Quinn and noticed her intense and awe inspiring beauty.
"Penny for your thought?"
"Oh, it's nothing…"
"It has to be something."
"Do you ever think about anyone else other than yourself?"
Regina stared at Quinn questioningly.
"Shoot! That came out wrong. I meant do you take the time out of your life to think about people you don't know and what they might be facing in their life?"
"Like people in poverty stricken places and how I could help," Regina asked confused.
"Um, kinda…Personally, I don't do this much. I am too into myself. I mean yesterday, I didn't even think there was a Storybrooke, Maine, ya know? I'm so wrapped up in my own life…my own shit that I don't stop and take the time to think about others. Maybe if I did, I would 'see' things differently. It might make me happier cuz right now…"
"To be fair, we're a small town and I don't think we're seeable on a map. But I understand what you mean. Sometimes I get wrapped up with my duties being mayor and other things that I don't stop and reflect on the idea that someone else might be struggling and looking for help."
She saw Quinn look down at the water.
"Quinn, do you need help?"
"I-I don't need money or anything like that. I haven't committed any crime that I know of. The 'help' I need is just for someone to listen because they want to. Not because they are getting paid to or feel that they have to."
Regina looked at Quinn. She didn't say anything. She grabbed Quinn's wrist and pulled her back to the street.
"Where are you taking me," Quinn asked kind of scared.
Regina didn't answer.
"Madame Mayor?"
Nothing.
"Um, Regina?"
Quinn looked up at the building that stood in front of them: City Hall
"Am I being arrested?"
Regina opened the double doors and morphed into her almost mean, Mayor persona.
"Cancel all of my appointments for today," she barked at her receptionist.
Quinn and Regina briskly walked into a large room. It was both professional and personal looking. Regina let go of Quinn's wrist to close and lock the big red oak doors. Immediately her persona changed back to the kind, affectionate Regina.
"Please sit down," Regina said as she pointed to a huge leather chair.
Quinn plopped down into the chair that faced Regina's desk. Regina didn't sit at her desk. Instead she opted for the other leather chair and pulled it so faced it Quinn.
Regina smiled brightly. "Quinn, I'm not a professional therapist, nor do I think that I give the greatest advice, but I am here to 'talk' if you'd like."
Quinn nodded her head.
- The song mentioned in this chapter was Missy Elliot's 'Work It"!