Authors Note: This is my first attempt at writing fiction of any kind. I've sort of had the premise for this story knocking around in my head for a while and after giving a friend the advice to practice writing by writing fan fiction, I thought I'd take my own advice and give it a go. I'm not sure at this point where the story is going to go after the first few chapters, so suggestions are welcome. I'm not sure how fast I'll be able to update, chapter two is already almost complete, but I do intend to finish the story, wherever it goes. Future chapters won't be as short as this one.
Time frame: Set at the beginning of season two, when Quinn has returned as Head Cherrio but Santana is her second in command, not at the bottom of the pyramid.
The Unholy Trinity swept into the choir room as if they owned it, Quinn in the lead with Santana and Brittany on either side with their pinkies linked between them. They paid little attention to the others in the room heading directly to their usual seats on the top level of the risers; Santana pulling Brittany more or less onto her lap causing Quinn to roll her eyes and wonder when the two will finally admit to what was so obvious to her and probably everyone else in the room.
Quinn surveys the room and realises that, once again, Mr. Shue is late. Typical, but not surprising, and for someone so demanding of punctuality in his students, a little annoying. She sighs pulling a sketch pad out of her bag and opens it to her latest sketch. It's almost complete now and Quinn contemplates the final details before placing pencil to paper.
The representation of Quinn is unmistakable, her hair is wild and she looks exhausted but her eyes are soft and a tear is rolling down her cheek as she looks down at the baby in her arms. The little girl is wrapped in a blanket but her features are blurred as if the viewer were looking at her through tear filled eyes, which is exactly how Quinn remembers this moment. The little life she had carried for nine months and had just given birth to clutched so tightly to her breast for such a short time and her heart breaking because now she finally understands what it means to give her up.
Quinn closes her eyes for a moment and prays she's done the right thing.
A gentle nudge against her shoulder pulls her out of her reverie and she looks up to see Santana looking at her with a worried expression, occasionally glancing down at the sketch in her hands. Santana might be a bitch and sometimes Quinn's worst enemy, but the last year has shown that the Latina really does care about Quinn in her own way. Quinn forces a small smile and nods slightly before returning her attention to the pad and pencil, once again ignoring the hubbub of the others in the choir room.
That is until the choir room suddenly falls silent and Santana's surprised "Holy Shit" causes her to raise her eyes once more. Her gaze follows Santana's and Brittany's across the room to the door and not even her HBIC training can stop the look of astonishment cross her face. Quinn feels a twist in her stomach and the blood rush to her face, for the first time since Beth was born she feels something other than heartbreak or numbness, something she should certainly not be feeling when looking at a girl.
Standing in the doorway in full Cheerios uniform, complete with high ponytail and cheeks flushed with embarrassment, is Rachel Berry.