Author's Note: Reviews are appreciated. Bonus points to whoever gets the other TV show reference.
Miss The Way You Dress
September 2032
A young, very short brunette was sitting alone in the school library trying to pass some time since she was avoiding the cafeteria. Although she was happy to have started at the high school, she was still a little concerned about making friends. She was quite the opposite of shy actually. The girl was so loud and had such an in-your-face demeanor that many people were put off. However, she was determined to make the best of the new year and new school. Maybe she would reinvent herself a little, of course she would not be giving up on her desire to join the Glee club.
The young girl was wondering through the aisles of the librarian when the old librarian came up to her. "Already studying? It is the first day you know." The librarian was used to new students hiding out amongst the books in an attempt to avoid eating in the crowded cafeteria.
"Oh, well. If you must know I was attempting to formulate a plan to ensure a place for me in New Directions. Both my parents were members when they attended this very school." Smiling widely at the reminder of all the stories the girl had heard from her parents. Since 2013, New Directions had been gaining popularity every year. They won Nationals multiple years in a row and surpassed the Cheerios in popularity. This was only to be expected after Sue Sylvester left William McKinley High School in her attempts to become a political figure. Since so many students wanted to join the glee club the current director who replaced Will Schuester was forced to make cuts. Although it went against the original New Directions' policy it was the only way to insure that the best singers made it into the group.
"Well a family legacy. That's a lot to live up to."
"Ma'am, I am a Berry. I can easily surpass what it is to be expected." The young Berry said without sounding conceited.
"What year did you parents graduate?"
"2013, the year New Directions won Nationals for the first time. I am proud to say that my mother was probably the main reason that the team won. Why do you ask?" The librarian had started to walk down one of the other aisles and prompted the short girl to follow her. After a brief moment of searching the librarian found something she was sure would intrigue the future member of New Directions. She handed a slim book to the girl and watched the younger girl's eyes widen in delight.
"This is fantastic. The yearbook from when my parents graduated. Surprisingly they both lost theirs although I have my suspicions that they do not want me to see the silly comments that their friends had written in the back pages." The girl quickly flipped open the book looking for the page that belonged to New Directions. There was a large group shot in the middle of the page. In the front row standing right next to each and holding hands were Quinn Fabray and Rachel Berry. Berry was wearing, as usual, a very short skirt and a strange argyle sweater that had a dolphin on it.
"There she is, my mom who saved the day for the club." The librarian looked on in amusement since she was slightly curious. The young brunette pointed to the one and only Quinn Fabray. To say the librarian was confused was an understatement.
"I thought Rachel Berry was the great diva singer for the club. At least she was most of the time that she was here."
"Wait." The young girl asked in utter shock. The librarian worked at William McKinley when her parents went to the school. "You know my parents?"
"Sure, I had just started working here and both of those young ladies, at least they were at the time, were sitting at that table working on some project." The librarian indicated a table a few feet away from where the pair was standing.
Flashback – September 2012
"Rachel," Quinn whined, "it's the first day of school. Why do we have to be in the library? And why did you make me come with you? Doesn't Finn spend all his time with you now? I mean he did dump me for you." Quinn continued to pout as she played with the corner of the paper Rachel was writing on.
"Quinn you know as well as I that we could have won Nationals last year if we had been more prepared. While I did enjoy working on the original songs I feel as if we were a tad rushed in the process. So this year, we are going to start working on our music selection as soon as possible."
"Oh please, we all know that something is gonna happen and we are going to have to come up with something in a crunch. Besides crunch time is when we do our best work. And you still didn't answer why I am here with you Berry instead of Finn."
"If you must know, Finn and I decided that it would be in both of our best interest if we dissolved our relationship before someone got hurt. We concluded that we are not mean to be together. So, I selected you out of the other members of Glee club because I strongly value your opinion and I believe that you will take it seriously unlike some of our other members."
"So, Finn dumped you?"
"Is that all you got out of what I said Quinn. And no, Finn did not dump me. I dumped him. He is just too emotionally immature. I should be more important than a video game." Rachel was beginning to get flustered by her more truthful answer about Finn. "I need someone that will support me in my endeavors and value my opinions. They would need to challenge me when necessary yet also know when to leave me to my thoughts."
"Rachel, you aren't writing a personal ad. How about we refocus here so that I can go eat lunch with S and B."
The librarian walked by and noticed that there were actual students using the library on the first day of school. "Do you girls need anything?" She asked politely.
"No thank you. If you do not mind me asking, are you new? I don't recognize you to be honest."
"Today is my first day actually. I'm Ms. Grove. Fell free to come find me if you need anything."
"Thank you Ms. Grove." Both girls said simultaneously.
"See Quinn, we are already working as a unit. This is going to be an awesome year."
End Flashback
"Those girls spent a lot of time in this library. They would be planning songs and on more than one occasion I caught them making out behind the bookshelves. Young love. Well, if you need anything else come get me. It's Mrs. Webster now by the way." Mrs. Webster walked away from the shorter girl and made her way back to the circulation desk.
"Wait till I get home." The girl said as she marched out of the library.
The end of the day was vast approaching which could only mean one thing. Auditions for New Directions. There was a long line of students waiting to join the very popular club.
"Next," a disembodied voice shouted from behind the closed door to the choir room. "Jaime Berry you're up."
Jaime walked into the room with an air of confidence. She had been in voice and dance lessons since she was three months old. All she needed to do was calm down and focus.
"What are you singing?" The director for New Directions, Mr. Jameson, asked.
"Maps by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs."
"Okay. Whenever you're ready." Jaime walked into the middle of the room and prepared herself to sing her heart out. She remembered all the advice her mom and mama gave her before she left for school that morning. She opened her mouth and belted out the song with as much emotion as she could muster.
Pack up
I'm straight
Enough
Oh, say say say
Oh, say say say
Oh, say say say
Oh, say say say
Oh, say say say
Wait, they don't love you like i love you
Wait, they don't love you like i love you
Ma-a-a-a-ps, wait!
They don't love you like i love you...
Made off
Don't stray
My kind's your kind
I'll stay the same
Pack up
Don't stray
Oh, say say say
Oh, say say say
Wait! they don't love you like i love you
Wait! they don't love you like i love you
Ma-a-a-aps, wait!
They don't love you like i love you...
Wait! they don't love you like i love you
Ma-a-a-aps, wait!
They don't love you like i love you...
Wait, they don't love you like i love you
Wait, they don't love you like i love you
Ma-a-a-a-ps, wait!
They don't love you like i love you...
Wait, they don't love you like i love you
Ma-a-a-a-ps, wait!
They don't love you like i love you...
"Excellent," Mr. Jameson said while clapping for the singer. "The new member list will be posted by the end of the week. Have a nice day." Jaime was disappointed that she did not get an answer the second she was done singing. Of course her confidence was not shaken in the slightest. She was a Berry after all. Jaime left the school and headed home preparing exactly how she was going to use her new information from the library against her parents.
Jaime strutted through the door to her house ready to give her parents the verbal beating she had always anticipated. As the oldest child she always got a lot of crap from her parents about being responsible and taking school seriously. Why waist an opportunity like this when it was handed to you on a silver platter?
"Hey Mama, how was your day at work?" Jaime asked with a sweetness that clearly had an ulterior motive. After graduating from high school, Rachel Berry's life took an unexpected turn. She ended up at Julliard, just like everyone expected, but decided to major in drama with a minor in music. As soon as Rachel graduated she ended up joining a few Broadway musicals. Just like most people predicted, Rachel ended up being the star of several shows. She was quickly asked to work in a few movies that ended up very successful. Although Rachel did not like to brag unnecessarily, the movies were very profitable.
One day, Rachel retired from the world of flashing lights and celebrity. And it was all thanks to Quinn Fabray. Rachel and Quinn had been together since senior year of high school. Quinn went to New York University so that she could be close to Rachel. Quinn majored in English then followed Rachel out to Los Angeles when she moved. The blonde was not about to lose another person who meant so much to her and Rachel did as much as she could in return for Quinn. Before the girls moved to LA, and right after they graduated college, they were married in New York. Three years later the married couple moved to Los Angeles. That same year was the year they decided to start a family and had Jamie. As time passed they decided to have two more children to complete their family. Quinn earned her doctorate degree in English while watching their kids since she was able to study full time while Rachel worked in movies.
Now Rachel owned her own theater. She offered acting and singing classes to everyone from adults to children. In all honesty, Rachel and Quinn never needed to work another day in their lives but they both got bored easily. Plus they did not want their children to become spoiled with too much attention of material goods. As Rachel would tell any person who asked, the benefits of being your own boss far outweighed having to be a celebrity. She was able to be home everyday to see her kids as soon as they got out of school. They may not always like it but Rachel believed it was important to establish a stable and supportive family life for her children to develop properly.
"Alright spill. You are only this nice when you want something. Haven't I told you multiple times that the proper way to approach a person is with honesty and trust that they will be fair in their response?" Rachel asked her oldest daughter while she eyed her suspiciously.
"You are absolutely right Mama. But I have no ulterior motive. I just wanna make sure that you had an awesome day." All the better to make you embarrassed my dear.
"I actually had a lovely day sweetheart. Thank you for asking. Now if you would be so kind as to go out to the bus stop so you can walk your brother and sister back to the house."
"You got it." The younger brunette walked out of the door trying to seem as helpful as possible. Rachel knew her oldest daughter was up to something but jumping to conclusions would do her no good. She was just going to have to wait and see what her daughter had planned.
Jamie was sitting on the curb waiting for her younger brother and sister when her neighbor walked over to get his younger siblings too.
"Hey Jamie," the boy said when he approached the girl. "you got pick up the siblings duty too?"
"Oh hey Logan. I got some awesome dirt on my parents so I want to milk it for all it's worth. Ya know, catch them by surprise and all."
"Do I get to know this dirt?"
"Like I'm gonna tell you Logan Hudson! You would run start back to your dad and tell him all about it. Then he would call Mama or worse Mom and you would ruin my entire plan!"
"Chill out Berry. I wouldn't tell my dad."
"Whatever Hudson. You would totally tell like that I time I told you about how I tricked Lily into stealing the cookies. You told your dad. Then Uncle Finn called my mom and you know what happened. I got grounded for a month. A whole month. No way I'm telling you this."
"Fine don't tell me. I don't care." Logan tried to pull off a non-caring look but easily failed at it. It seemed that Finn did not have any recessive genes for pulling off a cool and relaxed look.
The pair sat in silence until the bus with the elementary school kids arrived. Out of the bus hopped a blonde girl, a redhead little boy, and two brunette twin boys.
"Lily. Hunter," Jaime called to get her younger siblings attention. The blonde girl and redhead boy ran up to their older sister and started rapidly talking at the same time. It was one of the many traits that Rachel passed on to her children. The little girl was going on and on about how amazing her first day of fifth grade was. Hunter on the other hand was holding off on describing his first day of sixth grade.
"Brody and Benjamin, this way dudes," Logan called to his younger brothers. The twins came running over and tackled their brother to the ground.
"Sixth graders rule!" The twins shouted at the same time while their brother tried to get up.
"Bye Logan," the three Berries shouted at the same time as they headed back to their house.
"Mama," the youngest Berries shouted the second they busted through the door. Rachel hugged her kids then ordered them to start working on their homework. While the children were working on their homework Rachel started to cook dinner. After college, Rachel finally started to learn how to cook. It was a slow process at first but she eventually was able to master how to make perfect vegan meals. It seemed a perfect devotion to take-out places did not stop Rachel from mastering every skill she wanted to try.
Just as Rachel was setting the plates on the kitchen table the front door opened. "Rachie, I'm home." Quinn shouted doing her best I Love Lucy show impersonation. "Dinner smells good and I am starving."
Rachel gave her wife a quick peck on the cheek before she removed Quinn's bags and indicated she should sit down. "How was your day at the university? Teach any future brilliant scholars?"
"Babe, we have been in session for a couple weeks now. If anything interesting happened I would be utterly surprised. However, I did get some of my students interested in writing for the school newspaper."
"Look at you using your charm to positively influence others. I am so proud." Rachel jokingly wiped away at pretend tears.
"Oh hush," Quinn said then lightly slapped her wife's arm. "How was everyone's first day?" All three children burst out into simultaneous chatter. Despite the noise and confusion Quinn was still able to understand everyone. "Lily that sounds amazing that you get to have a class pet. I'm sure you will come up with a cool name for it. Jaime, stop acting like you aren't worried about your audition. We all know you are on the inside." Jaime scowled at this comment and was very ready to use her secret weapon now. "Last but not least, Hunter. If you keep losing your pencils then I will make you tie it to string and wear it around your neck. It's the first day. How did you lose them all? You know what don't answer that. Knowing you, you probably threw them at the teacher or something. We might make you stop hanging out with Uncle Puck for a little bit." Hunter looked absolutely devastated but realized his mother was joking when Quinn started laughing and pointed to Hunter's face.
"So Mom," Jaime began in a very foreboding tone. "I was in the library today and guess who I ran into. Mrs. Webster. Do you remember her?" Quinn shot her daughter a quizzical look. "Oh how silly of me. She was Ms. Grove when you guys went to school." The look on Quinn's face was priceless. Her eyes bugged out and a slight blush was starting to form on her cheeks. "Boy, she was telling me the funniest stories. Like how she would catch you and Mama making out behind bookshelves."
"I knew you were up to something Jaime Berry. What your mother and I did in our childhood has nothing to do with what we expect from you." Rachel began her rant immediately. She had predicted Jaime was about to unleash some new information and had prepared accordingly. Although she had not planned for this, Rachel was able to use another action plan for this purpose. Quinn continued to sputter and open and close her mouth repeatedly. "Now, there were times that your mother and I let things get a little out of hand but we were much older than you. Therefore, we expect that you will not think for a moment that our past behavior is license for you to do whatever you please."
Once Rachel finished her rather stern lecture Quinn decided to get a word in edge wise. "Yeah," was all she was able to come up with though.
"Mama you suck the fun out of everything." Hunter and Lily started to laugh at their sister's defeat but stopped once the older girl rounded a very scary glare on them.
Everyone ate the rest of the dinner in silence. Jaime was stewing in her defeat. Hunter and Lily were trying, and on occasion failing, to suppress their laughter while Quinn and Rachel attempted to hold back the blushes that were rising on their faces from remembering their high school days. Once the kids were finished eating Quinn gave them permission to go do whatever when she said, "be free my children."
"Nice save babe," Quinn said then pecked her wife on the cheek. "Still saving me today. You know that reminds of the time we first got busted making out in the library. Poor Ms. Grove."
Flashback – January 2013
"Rachel why do you keep dragging me here? Better question. Why do I keep coming?" Quinn was once again putting up a lame attempt to distract Rachel from the fact that she loved every minute with the short brunette. Although Quinn made a New Year's resolution to try and be more open to people, it was a little difficult with Rachel. Not that Rachel made Quinn feel the need to hide herself. It was more like Quinn was afraid that Rachel would want nothing to do with the short-haired blonde when she found out the dreaded secret.
Quinn Fabray was in love with a girl. And not just in love, head over heels in love. Plus, that girl was Rachel Berry.
"Quinn we have been friends for months now. I know when you are lying to me and this is one of those times. You love hanging out with me." Quinn gulped at the word love. It was one of the scariest words in her book at the time. "Besides, I have something very, very important I want to tell you and it requires privacy."
Rachel dragged Quinn through the library to one particular table. "Now Quinn, do you know where we are?"
Quinn knew it was a trick question. There was the obvious answer, the library, but Rachel knew that. So, there was definitely another answer that was the one the girl wanted. Quinn did not want to take to long thinking and look dumb. "The library," she blurted out suddenly.
"Yes MOTO. That's Master of the Obvious by the way. But more importantly we are at the table we sat at the first time we came to the library." Quinn knew there was a better answer and that seemed relatively obvious. In her defense, all the tables looked the same though. The blonde kept nodding her head like she was waiting for Rachel to say more. Quinn was so distracted by the head bobbing that she did not notice Rachel begin to move closer to her. Within seconds, the two were kissing.
Quinn could barely believe what was happening. After a millisecond of thinking Quinn realized she needed to start kissing back. So in true Steve Holt fashion the blonde ex-cheerleader kissed Rachel then pumped her fists in the air. The pair continued to stay lip-locked until the librarian spotted them.
"Girls, this is not the place to swap saliva," the librarian said as she broke the lovebirds apart. She sent them on their way and realized it would probably be a long year because of those two.
End Flashback
"Good times." Rachel said then laughed at her wife. "Your face when the librarian told us to stop. I wish I had a camera for that moment."
"Make fun of me all you want babe, but you were as equally disappointed."
"I had just landed the hottest girl in school. How dare she break us apart during that precious second."
"It's been years since that happened but I still love how upset you get about it. That makes me feel loved."
"Anything for the love of my life." Rachel replied then watched Quinn get up to clean the dishes. Leaving the room, Rachel headed upstairs to make sure her children had not killed each other or destroyed anything valuable.
Checking on the kids went a lot better than Rachel had expected. No one was fighting over a toy, book, or other object so that meant it was a good day at the Berry house. Rachel headed back downstairs to chat with her wife. "Lucy Berry, I demand to see you right now."
"Why do you have to call me Lucy? You know I hate that." Quinn skulked into the living room to sit next to her wife. She had put on her pout just to add the dramatics.
"But it's so pretty and sounds better than Quinn Berry. I mean my last name is amazing you it's your name that is the problem."
"So humble."
"Putting aside the antics. What are we going to do about Jaime? She now has unlimited access to the librarian and other school faculty who may remember some of our not so shining moments."
"I'll go talk to her right this very second." Quinn rushed out of the room just so that she would not have to be called Lucy again.
Quinn walked into her eldest daughter's room and took a seat on the edge of her bed. "So Jaime, your mama and I were talking and we just wanted to tell you that you probably should just drop the whole embarrassing your parents thing."
"Oh really? And why is that Mom? Afraid I'll find something?"
Quinn unfortunately fell for her daughter's trap and blurted out something she would later regret. "You couldn't find out any good dirt on us even if we gave you a list of all the people to talk too. In fact, I'd like to see you try." Quinn's eyes bugged out for a second time that evening as soon as she realized what she said.
"I'll accept that challenge. You need to go now Mom, I have things to plan." Quinn slowly shuffled out of the room and went back to the living room. Rachel watched her wife approach and knew that somehow Quinn had messed up.
"What did you do?" Rachel decided that now was not the time to be eloquent when speaking. Finding out what Quinn did wrong was like ripping off a band-aid. It needed to be done fast.
"I may have encouraged Jaime to perhaps attempt to find information on us that might cause embarrassment in the future." Quinn sheepishly explained to her wife while looking at the ground. It was best not to look Rachel in the eyes during a time like this.
"Well," Rachel began in a very resigned tone, "let's hope she doesn't find out anything too bad."
"No worries honey. We weren't that bad as teenagers." Rachel just gave Quinn a look that said yeah, right. The pair sighed since they knew it would be a long time before Jaime would give up her quest. Yet another trait that she got from Rachel. "Maybe no one remembers us." Quinn suggested in a vain attempt to alleviate her own anxiety.
"Baby you know I love you but you do some pretty dumb stuff for a college professor."
"Yeah, I know."
At the top of the stairs, Jaime was sitting and listening to her parents conversation. That entire talk proved to her that there was information to be found. Jaime laughed menacingly and said, "Game on."