Disclaimer: I don't own Glee
AN: New story! I've had this idea for a while and have finally really started to write it. It should be about 10-12 chapters and I hope to post a chapter a week! Reviews are always appreciated :)
The Most Magical Place On Earth
Rachel scurried around her room, her checklist of what to pack in her hand as she carefully triple checked everything in her bags. She looked up at the hesitant knock at her door as her dad, Hiram walked in.
"Rachel, honey are you almost done? Your daddy and I want to pack the car tonight, because we'll be leaving for the airport early tomorrow morning."
"I am just checking that I have everything packed for our winter break trip to Walt Disney World!" Rachel said jumping in excitement.
"Good," Hiram said chuckling deeply at his daughter's antics.
"There is something your daddy and I need to tell you though," he said cautiously causing Rachel to pause in her moments.
"Have you told her yet?" her daddy, Leroy asked appearing in her doorway next to Hiram. It was a strange sight, thought Rachel, as she saw her two fathers next to each other. They were complete opposites. Hiram was taller, broad shouldered with glasses that accentuated his strong facial features. Her daddy, Leroy, was about a foot shorter with darker skin, less toned and less defined facial features. Even their voices were completely different, Rachel liked to think of them as "the baritone and the tenor." Even thought they were so different, the blended together beautifully and harmoniously.
"Told me what?" Rachel asked curiously, staring at the two men in her doorway.
"Sweetie, there's been a problem with the plane tickets," Hiram said to his daughter.
"Don't tell me our seventh annual trip to Walt Disney World will be delayed due to the airlines incompetence. I will most definitely contact the airline immediately and request compensation for their lack of courtesy," Rachel huffed as Leroy moved into Rachel's "very berry" pink room, smirking at his daughter's antics – she definitely got that from Hiram; who also had a tendency to exaggerate and over dramatize things.
"Rachel, honey, calm down – we all have tickets for tomorrow. We just all won't be sitting together," Leroy continued as he saw the confused look on his daughter's face.
"The airline seems to have placed two of us in one row and the other in a seat two rows behind us," Hiram clarified. Rachel blinked rapidly before huffing and crossing her arms as she plopped onto her plush pink comforter on her bed.
"It won't be that bad Rach, I can sit in the row behind you and daddy," Hiram said placing his hand on Rachel's shoulder and sitting down next to her on the bed causing it to droop slightly under his bulky stature. Rachel glanced up at her fathers and sighed and leaned her head to rest on Leroy's shoulder.
"No, that won't be necessary. We will just have to forgo our renditions of seminal Disney songs until we land in Orlando."
"Something I'm sure the other passengers will be happy about," Leroy mumbled winking at his daughter when she pouted.
"It will also give me time to go over possible set list ideas for Regionals in the spring for Glee club. I think that I will just look at this as a chance to get ahead in my work" Rachel said beaming as she nodded her head vigorously to herself while her fathers just chuckled.
Quinn sat in her living room, stony faced and staring at the clock. Her mother was opposite her on the expensive, cream colored loveseat. Quinn briefly glanced at her mother's worried face before looking back at the clock.
"Maybe we should have told your friends that we would've picked them up at their houses, rather than having them meet us here?" Quinn's mother, Judy, questioned cautiously. It had been half a year since her mom had come to her at regionals and begged her to move back into their now, too big house. It made Quinn happy to be back but the air in the household was always tense. The tension and a need to reconnect with her daughter was what prompted Judy's sudden want for a family vacation, but since Quinn's older sister Jessica had to work Judy suggested Quinn take a friend. Quinn knew she couldn't take Santana without Brittany and vice versa, so here they were waiting impatiently for her two friends to show. Quinn could tell her mom was trying to really hard to return to a vague sense of normalcy. She found herself relishing the moments she was out of the house, at school, glee and Cheerios practice. It was horrible but Quinn didn't know how to be around her mother anymore. Judy had gone from ignoring every bad thing in Quinn's life to kicking her out of the house for her unplanned pregnancy to groveling for her younger daughter's return home in an attempt to win her back. Quinn didn't know how to deal with the sudden interest in her life after growing up in the stoic Fabray household, although she knew it was mostly due to her father, she never did share heart to hearts with Judy. She didn't know how to open up to her own mother, how pathetic is that?
Quinn shrugged to her mother, if they didn't leave soon they might miss the plane. She glanced at the clock on the mantel once more, the ticking being the only sound to fill the silence of the room. Quinn jumped up as the doorbell rang throughout the house. She yanked open her front door to reveal her two best friends. Quinn's eyebrows furrowed briefly in confusion as she realized with a slight smile her friends weren't in their Cheerios uniforms.
"Preggers, grab Brittany's bags will you?" Santana asked as she brushed past Quinn in the doorway dragging Brittany behind her by the pinkie. Quinn sighed as she grabbed Brittany's bag off her stoop and brought it inside.
"Don't get to comfortable S, we're leaving in five," Quinn said to Santana; even though she was seemingly not paying attention.
"Hello girls, I'm so glad your parents have agreed to let you come along to Orlando with us, I know Quinnie will enjoy it," Judy said beaming at the two new arrivals.
"We're just so glad Quinnie invited us," Santana said smirking at the new nickname. Quinn groaned inwardly at the glee in Santana's eyes.
"Quinn! Santana promised we could take pictures with Donald Duck and get his autograph!" Brittany squealed jumping up and down. Now it was Quinn's turn to smirk and raise an eyebrow at Santana's lightly flushed face. The Latina hated to show any sign of weakness but she could never say no to B.
"Come on, let's get in the car, we'll miss our flight," Quinn said chuckling.
"Don't say a thing," Santana said darkly, this time grabbing Brittany's bag herself.
Rachel looked up from sheet music to glance at her watch. She had been on the plane ten minutes or so and they were still boarding. Two rows in front of her were her fathers who had met a nice old woman, who was extremely interested in her daddy's scarf. Rachel was sitting on the inside of her three person row, against the window. She had the shade pulled halfway to relieve her sheet music of some sun glare.
"Yes B, I promise we can see Donald Duck at all the parks," a voice said as Rachel's head popped up. She knew that voice, she peered above her seat to see one Santana Lopez boarding the plane with Brittany S. Pierce right behind her. Rachel blinked rapidly before ducking her head in hopes they wouldn't notice her.
"You girls are in this row, and Quinnie and I are in the one behind you" came a more mature voice from behind the two cheerleaders. Behind her was Quinn Fabray. Rachel almost wanted to curse her luck at being stuck on a plane with the Unholy Trinity. The bane of her existence. Rachel watched in horror as the four women walked closer to her row. There was no way, they would be sitting near her right? She squeezed her eyes shut, hoping for the best – maybe they would walk right by.
"Stubbles? You look like you're having a seizure," Santana said as she looked on in confusion at Rachel's scrunched up face.
"Oh Santana, hello, I didn't see you there" said Rachel trying to remain calm and regain some of her dignity. It was bad enough they made fun of her clothes, she didn't need to act embarrassed in front of the cheerleaders too. "Are you traveling to Orlando as well?" Rachel asked.
"Hi Rachel!" said Brittany as she and Santana moved into the row between Rachel and her dads.
"Hello Brittany, how are you?" Rachel asked smiling at the taller girl. Out of the three cheerleaders Brittany had a habit of being the nicest; well most of the time. There was that one time with the yearbook but Rachel chose to ignore that.
"I'm great! S is taking me to see Donald Duck!" Brittany squealed as Santana motioned for her to sit down.
"Oh? You're both visiting Walt Disney World as well?"
"Yeah, Baby Mama there invited us to go with her over break," Santana said rolling her eyes and sitting down. Rachel for the first time noticed the blonde cheerleader sitting next to her. Quinn was glaring at the back of the Latina's seat. Rachel heard the doors of the plane close and sighed leaning back, the sooner the plane ride started the better.
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard Delta Airlines flight 502 with non-stop service to Orlando, Florida. Please turn your attention to the flight attendant nearest you for our safety demonstration.
Rachel's eyes drifted to the two blondes next to her, because in all reality no one listens to the flight safety speech...and she had it memorized, but that was besides the point. She had never noticed how alike both women were, not knowing much about Judy Fabray she found it surprising to see mother and daughter look so similar. Even in their actions, both had their heads pressed firmly against the back of the headrest, their posture looked so rigid Rachel wondered how they could be comfortable.
In case there is a loss in cabin pressure, yellow oxygen masks will deploy from the ceiling compartment located above you. To secure, pull the mask towards you, secure the elastic strap to your head, and fasten it so it covers your mouth and nose. Breath normally. Even if the bag does not inflate, please keep in mind that oxygen is flowing. Please make sure to secure your own mask before assisting others.
Rachel turned her attention back to the flight attendant and found herself listening to every detail now. Despite knowing it by heart, she wanted to make sure she knew all possible ways to live through a unexpected emergency. If she died before completing her twelve step life plan, she would never forgive herself.
Thank you for your attention, and we wish you a good flight on Delta Airlines.
Rachel relaxed in her seat and shut her tray and put away her sheet music for the take off. Rachel watched the ground start to speed away as the plane picked up speed down the runway. She felt her body shift as the plane started to rise into the air. She felt a strong pressure on her arm and she tilted her head to see Quinn and her mother both with their eyes squeezed shut. Quinn's left hand was squeezing Rachel's arm with all her might. The other hand, Rachel imagined, would be squeezing Judy's hand if Judy's own hands weren't turning white from clasping them in her lap.
Rachel moved Quinn's hand to her own, rather than having the blonde claw at her arm. Rachel then tilted her head and whispered to Quinn "You don't like plane rides?"
Quinn opened her eyes and quickly turned to look at Rachel. She blinked rapidly at Rachel, trying to calm herself and take in the fact that the diva was talking to her.
She swallowed and paused. Rachel thought that for a moment Quinn would just ignore her. But Quinn took a deep breath and said, "It's not plane rides, it's the taking off and landing. Other than that I'm usually okay." Rachel comfortingly squeezed Quinn's hand, who in return gave Rachel a small smile. They stayed like that until the plane leveled out. Quinn occasionally closing her eyes and sometimes opening them to see if Rachel was still facing her. When the fasten seat belt sign finally came on Quinn released the tension in her chest and opened her eyes. Rachel was still staring at her and Quinn quickly sat up straight removing her hand from Rachel's as she did, as if a switch had been turned on. Rachel was shocked at the sudden change in Quinn's demeanor but didn't say anything. Instead she turned herself around and grabbed her sheet music from her bag and wordlessly returned to her transposing.
Rachel felt like she could finally breathe as she stepped off the plane and into the bright Orlando airport. The three hour flight next to the Fabrays had been nothing short of tense and awkward after Quinn's minor freak out. Although, it wasn't like Rachel expected anything more than terse words from Quinn Fabray.
"Rach, honey!" Hiram called to her as she bustled over with her carry-on bag. "How was the flight?" Leroy asked as she reached them. He leaned over and grabbed his daughter's pink carry-on from her hand. Hiram waved to an old woman as she passed by, Rachel assumed it was she who had sat beside her fathers on the flight; before he fixed he glasses and turned to his daughter beaming.
"Not as pleasurable or as entertaining as yours, I'm sure," Rachel replied.
"Rach!" came a cry from behind her as Brittany engulfed her into a brief hug. Judy Fabray and the two other cheerleaders made their way over to join the tall, blonde cheerleader.
"I'm so excited to see Donald Duck!" Brittany squealed. Leroy raised an eyebrow at the three new teenage additions. The dark haired one had a McKinley jacket on, but Rachel barely mentioned people that weren't Finn, Kurt, Mercedes and that Puckerman boy. At least not in a positive light.
Judy Fabray cautiously introduced herself to the two men, having no idea who the short brunette that sat in her row on the plane was.
"Mom, this is Rachel. She's in glee with us," Quinn introduced surprising the short diva with the use of her first name.
"Oh that singer you talk about?" Judy asked smiling. Rachel glanced at Quinn who had a light blush across her face.
"Quinnie has told me so much about you" Judy said. It was now Rachel's turn to blush as Judy shook her hand vigorously. Santana threw a smirk in Quinn's direction at the new information causing Quinn to glare back.
"Yes, well, it is lovely to meet you Mrs. Fabray. These are my fathers, Leroy and Hiram. Dad, Daddy this is Quinn Fabray, Santana Lopez and Brittany Pierce," Rachel said making the obligatory introductions.
"It is such a pleasure to meet the both of you! I'm Judy Fabray. I'll have you know that my views are nothing like my husbands and I support the gays one hundred percent!"
"Mom!"
"That's very nice of you Mrs. Fabray," Hiram said taking her hand eagerly, ignoring the awkward tension between the four teens.
"Well we better go and get our rental car," Leroy said, "Perhaps we'll see you around."
"Yes, that would be wonderful!" Judy replied as the two men and Rachel walked off.
"Mom, I can't believe you sometimes," Quinn said huffing as she headed off to the baggage claim.
"I was simply being friendly Quinn. I want people to know that just because I was married to your father for fifteen years and people attach a stigma to our name, that I'm nothing like him. I don't want perfectly nice people to think less of me due to Russell," Judy explained walking ahead of the girls to grab her bag.
"The only reason you're upset is because your mom embarrassed you in front of your girlfriend, Quinnie," Santana said in Quinn's ear laughing.
"Shut up S."
"Oh did I touch a nerve?" Santana asked, earning a nudge and a smirk from Brittany.
Rachel looked around in astonishment at the lobby of Disney's Wilderness Lodge, as Hiram checked them into their hotel room in the Villas. The lobby was wide and spacious and deliciously cool against Florida's warm air. It was relaxing, with soothing music in the background and the light noise of a fountain which was running softly near the back entrance of the lobby. A giant tree sat in the middle of the lobby, lightly decorated in homely style garnish and tinsel. The fireplace next to it crackled and popped as the flames ate away at the wood. Rachel giddily followed her fathers to their room.
"Oh isn't this perfect!" came a chipper voice from down the hallway. Rachel blinked rapidly, this had to be a joke. The plane ride had been a crazy happenstance; a fluke. Things like this just didn't happen, but there in front of her stood the three Cheerios and Mrs. Fabray who was beaming at Rachel and her fathers.
"You're staying here too?" Quinn asked, with what Rachel assumed to be malice in her voice. She watched as Santana leaned over and whispered something in Quinn's ear, most likely an insult, and Quinn's face turned red but didn't betray any emotion.
Hiram, realizing his daughter wasn't going to answer for once, jumped in, "So you're in the room next to us?"
"Room 214!" Judy replied happily, not realizing the Rachel's look of discomfort, "Have you all eaten? Why don't we all grab something together? The girls can hang out!"
"Mom, they're probably tired or something," Quinn mumbled in an attempt to save both families from a dinner of awkwardness.
Santana looked back and forth from Rachel and Quinn; Tubbers still looked like she was still going to pass out at the thought of living next to Berry for the next week and the Diva looked like she was going to pass out from discomfort. Rachel's dads looked confused and Judy was completely oblivious to all of it, she had to do something to make this a little less awkward.
"Come on Berry, we're all hungry! Let's eat, you can sit next to Quinn," Santana said giving Rachel a wink which made the short, brunette blush for some unknown reason.
"Rach? What do you think?" Leroy asked looking back and forth between the two groups.
"I think that is a very generous offer, Mrs. Fabray, I don't know how I can say no," Rachel said politely, "Where did you have in mind? I know the hotel has a rather lovely cafe, that I'm sure we can grab lunch at."
"That sounds perfect!," Judy replied, "Why don't we all settle in and meet out here in a half hour or so?"
"Sounds great!" Hiram replied as he and Leroy swiped their card and gave the other group a wave. Judy did the same, with Santana and Brittany following close behind; Quinn paused before going into her room and turned back to Rachel.
"Thanks for agreeing to dinner, sorry for my mom," Quinn said her eyes running over Rachel's face, toward her neck. Quinn briefly wondered how soft Rachel's skin was before shaking the thought from her mind and looking back at the Diva.
"No need to apologize! She's a very nice woman, I'm sure dinner will be great," Rachel said, feeling much more relaxed about the meal that was going to take place. She smiled at Quinn before entering her suite; the day had been interesting to say the least, she had never had so many nice interactions with the Unholy Trinity before and she was surprised at how at ease she was. They didn't seem to have anything malicious planned, and if they did, she doubted Judy Fabray would be in on it – so Quinn's kindness and openness today had to have been genuine.