AN: So... I've always written in portuguese and this is my first attempt at writing something in english..

It's a translation from one of my stories in pt (O Contrário), but it's one of my favorites and it fits in the Blind Date Day from Faberry Week..

Anyways, forgive my mistakes and please review!

(Also, Tks to Argnine... What would I do without you?)

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Part 1/4 - The Hardest Part

...

"I can't do this..."

Tina rubbed her eyes and sank back into the pillows. "It's two a.m. and I have no idea what you're talking about ..."

"Actually, it's 5:30, and you do know. You were the one who talked me into this in the first place..."

Tina huffed and turned the lamp on, causing her boyfriend to hid his head under the pillow.

"All I did was agreeing with you when you said it was time, Quinn." She stood up and dragged herself to the kitchen, knowing that sleeping again was out of question. She could hear her friend's ragged breathing over the phone. "You're freaking out, just breathe. Everything's going to be fine... "

Quinn snorted. "You don't really believe in that."

"Of course I do ..." Tina yawned. "I believe in ... Something. You? "

"You know, this is confusing ..."

"It's five a.m., Quinn. You can't expect me to make sense. "

"Five thirty."

"Whatever."

Tina heard her friend breathe deeply.

"You know what? I'll just call them and cancel. I'll say that ... That I have a cold or something. My nose is a bit stuffy. Do I sound sick for you?"

"Oh, no. No, no, no. It's been a year, you can't postpone it forever, Quinn." Tina sat in a chair, feeling a little less sleepy.

"One week longer is not going to hurt anyone, right?"

"And you'll say the exact same thing next week, and the next, and after that, and the next, and then once again, and ..."

"Okay, okay! I get it!" Exclaimed Quinn, Tina could almost hear her eyes rolling.

"You can't runaway anymore, Q. They will find out eventually. And it's better that they hear it from you, than from a wicked neighbor." She bit her pinky nail. "Unless you're considering moving to Canada, or something."

"I guess I'll just have to move anyways."

"Ugh! You're being over dramatic, it's kind of annoying, especially at 5am."

"5:30"

"5:45, actually."

"Hummmm…" Quinn went silent and Tina put her on speaker while starting the coffee machine. "So, what should I do?"

"Isn't that obvious? Stick with the plan, of course." She ran a hand through her hair. "You'll go into that restaurant, sit in front of your parents, look them in the eye and say ..."

…

"Mom, Dad, I'm gay." Quinn took a deep breath and shoved the toothbrush back in her mouth, shaking her head softly before spitting white foam into the sink. She stared at her own hazel eyes through the mirror. "Mom, do you remember when I was a child? You always thought it was funny when I'd put my Barbies to sleep and lock Ken out of the house ... "

She made a face and pinched the bridge of her nose.

"This is ridiculous ..." She muttered, glancing at her phone and considering calling Tina again, or maybe Santana. "Get a grip, Fabray!" She scolded herself out loud and turned to face the reflection in the mirror. "You're a strong, independent woman, you're 26 and so... so gay." She smiled mockingly. "Great! Now tell that to your parents!"

Quinn bit her lip and pulled her hair up into a ponytail as she returned to the bedroom to retrieve her makeup case. She applied eyeliner and mascara carefully, the way she knew Judy would approve. Also put the earrings that her father gave her for Christmas and the most delicate dress she could find in her closet (cream colored with small pink flowers in it).

"I'm still the same person ..." She spoke softly, firming the ponytail and removing the excess of lipstick. "I'm still me."

…

Judy checked her golden watch for the third time and drummed her fingers on the table top before taking a long sip of her extra sweet drink. "What do you think the 'important thing' is?" She asked her husband, making air quotes with her free hand. "Do you think she finally found a boyfriend? I bet it's that Blaine guy, from work. She's always talking about him and he is so handsome…" One more sip. "I just hope our grandchildren won't inherit his eyebrows… That amount of facial hair is extremely unappealing."

"He works on television, the least we can expect from him is to be handsome, Judy. And as far as we know, he can be an entirely different person behind the cameras." He eyed the glass on his wife's hands and his throat dried while his fingers twitched. Russel was proudly sober for five years (a fact that did not make him immune to alcohol). "And really, those eyebrows ..." He pursed his lips disapprovingly. "Honestly, I don't think some random fellow will be good enough for our daughter."

"You're her father, no man will ever be good enough for you." She glanced at the clock again. "6 minutes late. Do you think something happened? "

"Have you seen the traffic in this city? She's probably on her way."

"I told you we should have called when we left. If you had listened to me, she'd be here by now."

"Don't be silly, Judy. You can't control our daughters 24/7…"

Judy was about to answer when the restaurant door opened and Quinn arrived with flushed cheeks and blond hair a little disheveled by the wind. Her eyes scanned the place before she found her mother waving excitedly from a table in the corner.

The blonde took a deep breath and walked to them, sitting heavily in one of two vacant chairs.

"You're late, darling." Remarked Judy, folding her hands across the table.

"I know, sorry, I've got stuck in traffic ..." Quinn replied, tucking a rebel strand of golden hair behind her ear.

"I told you so…" Mumbled Russel.

"I should have left earlier, but…"

"Haa!" Judy exclaimed, smiling at her husband. "See? We should have called ..."

Russel narrowed his eyes and his daughter arched an eyebrow.

"But we're all here now and you, dear, look just lovely!"

"And these are the earrings I gave you for Christmas, right?" Asked Mr. Fabray. "Do you like them?"

The blonde took a hand to the pearls hanging from her ears and smiled weakly.

"So, my dear? What's so important? "The older blonde asked, resting her chin on the back of her hands.

Quinn licked her lips and looked away. The napkin on her lap appeared to be so interesting all of a sudden. "This, is this satin?" She asked, lifting the white cloth and squeezing it between her fingers.

"I don't know, honey." Judy replied quickly, consumed by her curiosity. "But we did not come here to talk about napkins, right?"

"I guess not ..." Quinn replied, still looking down and feeling like a child who had broken and hidden her mother's favorite vase. She looked up slightly and met her father's bright blue eyes.

She hated that feeling, of not being able to sustain their gazes, as if they could learn all the truth just by staring at her long and carefully enough. She hated feeling uncomfortable at every family meeting, and most of all, she hated that her lack of interest in men was always mistaken for criticism.

'Picky girls will always end up alone, Quinnie…' was her aunt's speech. She rubbed her forehead. It was so exhausting, pretending to be something she was not, having to be careful with her words and pronouns, lying about the girls she had dated, finding a masculine alternative to replace the names of women with whom she was involved… All that just to get her mom out of her neck.

What was the point in making her mother happy if it only made Quinn feel increasingly distant from her family. She was tired of living a lie. That's why she had arranged that lunch with her parents, to be honest with them about everything.

"Miss?"

"Hum?" Quinn looked up to find a waiter offering her a menu with a smile. "Oh, thank you ..."

"When you're ready to order, just call me." He spoke softly before retreating.

"Oh, dear, have you seen the way he looked at you?" Judy asked, her green eyes flashed at her younger daughter. "Don't look at me like that, honey, I know he's just a waiter, but it might be fun to flirt with people like him ..."

Quinn squinted, confused for a moment and then she blushed, shaking her head in disbelief. "No! No, no…" She giggled. "Oh, mother ... I don't ... In fact, that's what I wanted to talk about... "

She took courage, thinking about how nice it would be when she didn't have to deal with situations like that anymore. " I.. I have nothing against dating a waiter, but I have no interest in it and there is a reason why... I mean.. I'm not interested, and it's almost so obvious, and…"

She casted a glance at her parents, but they just stared at her, looking as clueless as ever.

"Don't you understand what I'm trying to say?" She asked, not wanting to use all the words.

"Of course we do, honey, you're not interested in the waiter." Her mother replied, waving her hand before smiling meaningfully. "And I bet I know why…"

"You do?" Russel and Quinn asked simultaneously.

"Of course I do! I'm your mother and a mother always knows!"

"Really?" Quinn arched an eyebrow, completely shocked.

"You're in love!"

Quinn gapped. "I… am?" Judy nodded, smiling brightly, Quinn covered her eyes with her hands. "I guess we're not on the same page here, mom…"

"Oh, Quinn, you can tell us… Is that Blaine guy, isn't it?"

"Blaine?" Her eyes widened. "No!"

"He's so handsome and you two look so good together on television!"

The blonde stared at her mother and didn't know whether to laugh or scream at her to stop.

"You both are so smart, and journalists and work for same TV station! You two are... "

"… gay." Quinn finished in one breath.

"… perfect for each… w-what?" Judy stopped gesturing and looked (really looked) at her daughter for the first time that day.

Quinn looked so small, shrunken into herself. Her gaze was fixed on the glass table between them, and her face was red.

"What did you say? Quinnie? I think I've misunderstood."

"I said that Blaine is gay."

"Oh .." She straightened herself. "Well, then who is he?"

"Who's who, mom?"

"The man you're in love with…"

Quinn took a deep breath and leaned back in her chair.

"There is no one. And no man.. Nor will ever be. "

"But I thought ..." Judy was puzzled, the blonde could tell. "Why not?"

"Because I'm gay too, mom."

Mrs. Fabray was silent and Quinn wouldn't dare to look at her father that moment.

"Why?" Judy finally stammered.

"Why what?"

"Why do you think you're gay?"

"I don't think I'm gay, mom, I'm sure."

"You cannot say such a thing! How can you be sure?" Judy shook her head, her green eyes penetrated the hazel ones in a way that made Quinn feel literal pain. "You weren't gay last week..."

"I was. I've always been... It just took me a while to realize."

"And… How did… How did you learn that?" She shivered. "You didn't… have… intercourse..? With other...?"

Quinn's face went red again. "Er… Well, I kinda.. sort of… yeah…"

"Oh, Lord!" She put a hand over her heart dramatically. "What do we have to do to get you back to normal? Is there a doctor? Or… Or you could talk to father Thomas, he always knows what to say, and…"

Quinn covered her ears and felt her eyes burn. "I am normal!" She practically shouted, attracting some startled looks. "I am normal. I didn't choose to like other women like that, but I can't help it... "

"How would you know, Quinn? How? This is too hasty, we should talk to doctor.. "

"No! Mom!" She exclaimed, leaning over the table and feeling her chest constrict. "Remember when I was little, how I would say I didn't like onions?"

Judy breathed shakily and gulped down the rest of her drink before nodding.

"You said I couldn't say that without trying it. And then I did try and it was disgusting…"

Judy's eyes were shining with unshed tears, while a few droplets streamed down her daughter's cheeks.

"Then you said, 'Try again, maybe the second time will be better.'" Quinn wiped her face with the back of her hand. "And I tried again and still hated and even today, I just don't like onions or things that have onions in it."

"What.. What are you trying to say, Quinnie?"

"To me, men are like onions… I tried to like them, I've had my fair share of experience with them, but it just doesn't feel right…"

Judy sniffed. "I don't understand..."

"I don't expect you to understand, mom ... I just need you to accept me..." She said in a broken tone.

"Oh, Quinn ... Are you really serious?" She blew her nose discreetly on the satin napkin.

"I wouldn't joke about something like this, mom…"

"Oh, Russell, you heard that?"

Quinn finally dared to glance at her father. He was quiet, his hands clasped over his mouth as he stared at some random spot across the restaurant.

Suddenly he raised his arm and the two blondes quivered, but he just waved to the waiter.

"I'll have two steaks with bacon, and another drink with a big salad for my wife, please." He ordered calmly, returning the menu to the smiling guy before turning to his daughter, who was staring oddly at him. "What? You're not telling me you're a vegetarian too, are you?"

"No, I still… Bacon…"

"I'm glad." He smiled softly.

Quinn smiled back sheepishly, not knowing what to expect anymore. Never, not even in a thousand years, she would have expected such a reaction from her father. At least not from the Russel who raised her. But that Russel had changed so much, thanks to Alcoholics Anonymous.

Judy looked at them in disbelief. "Russel! What are you doing?"

"Having lunch?" He asked, without diverting his eyes from Quinn's.

"Didn't you hear what our daughter just said? How can you be hungry after hearing such a thing?"

He turned to face her, slowly. "You wanted to leave early and I couldn't finish breakfast."

"Our daughter just announced she likes to sleep with other women and you'll just sit there and eat? As if nothing had changed?" She sounded outraged and her tone really hurt Quinn.

"Nothing has… I don't feel different. Do you feel different, sweetheart?"

The younger blonde opened her mouth to reply, completely shocked at the scene that unfolded before her. "No…"

"See? Everything is normal, Jud…"

"Russel!"

"What do you want me to say, Judith?" He finally raised his voice, but still sounded perfectly calm. "That I will disown my baby girl just because she finally understood why her previous relationships never worked out?" He glanced at Quinn out of the corner of his eyes. "No offense."

She shook her head no and just stared at them, completely baffled.

"Well, more or less ..." Answered the older blonde, a little awkwardly. "You're not even a bit shocked with all this? Aren't you offended?"

"Shocked yes, but not offended… The only thing I want for my daughters is for them to be healthy and happy, and if Quinn believes she'll only find happiness with another woman, then so be it! I can't see anything wrong with that…" He paused. "Also, the onion thing was rather convincing…"

Quinn laughed and her dad joined her.

"I don't think you got it right, dear, our daughter is a lesbian. A lesbian!"

Right on cue, the waiter arrived with her drink and Judy covered her face with both hands.

"How can you accept that, Russel?"

"Mom…" Quinn tried again, reaching for her mother, but Judy dodged her touch.

"I need some time, Quinn. I'm so sorry." She stood up. "But I need some time."

"Judy..." Russel stood up too and tried to grab her arm, but she was faster and walked around the table, leaving the restaurant in a heartbeat.

Quinn watched the door slam and for a second, she expected her father to follow his wife, but was surprised once again when he just sighed and sat back down. "My keys were in her purse... I'll need a ride home later."

The blonde nodded absently, but then she realized what he had just said. "Wait, you're still having lunch with me?"

"Of course, I didn't cross the city to get back home with an empty stomach." He said, looking for the waiter to cancel the salad and pushing Judy's drink towards Quinn.

"I'm so sorry, Dad ..." She mumbled, choking in agony.

"No." He stated firmly. "I apologize for your mother, Quinn. She's so worried about your sister's divorce, and… well, actually, when Franny called saying she had news to share, your mom thought she might be pregnant."

"Oh…" Quinn's eyes widened. It had been a few months that her older sister was going through an awful divorce, but their parents just learned about that on the previous week. Maybe she really should have postponed that lunch after all...

"And today you... Well, to many bombs and not enough time to do the damage control..." He said, scratching his neck nervously. "Your mother was expecting grandkids and got a divorce and a..." Russel cleared his throat. "a..."

"Gay daughter..."

"Yeah..."

"I still can have kids, you know..."

"I know that, sweetheart. And your mother does too." He paused and frowned. "In fact, our new neighbors are ..."

"Someone finally moved to the Rutherford house?" She asked, glad with the change of subject.

"Yes, a pair of siblings. I think they must be around your age. Your mother knows more about them, the girl, Rachel, or something, she works at the hospital too."

"Hmm... "Judy was a nurse in the children's ward on the Presbyterian Hospital in NY.

"And the brother have a pool's cleaning business, I can't recall his name, but it's something Jewish.." The food arrived and they were interrupted for a few seconds. "But what I'm trying to say is that, apparently, they were raised by two men! And they turned out perfectly fine!" He proclaimed, as if that was the most amazing thing.

Quinn raised an eyebrow, but remained silent, chewing absently at her lunch.

"And I know you'll be a great mother someday, even if it is with another woman." He shoved a forkful of meat into his mouth.

The blonde narrowed her eyes. "Dad?"

"Hummm?"

"Why are you being so cool about this?" She shrugged. "Between you and mom, I've always thought..."

Russel dropped his silverware and wiped his mouth. "You're a grown woman, Quinn. I have no right to interfere in your life anymore." He took a sip of water. "Do I agree with that? No. I can't understand it either. But you are my daughter, and I love you. That will never change, regardless of what you choose to do with your life..." He placed a hand over hers across the table. "I just want to see you happy, sweetie."

She found herself speechless, drowning in her father's intense gaze. "Thank you ..." She muttered.

"And your mom agrees with me. She just needs some time... But I'll talk some sense into her when I get home. Everything's going to be fine, okay?"

"I really hope so."

"Oh, you know her, in less than a week she will be trying to find you a.. a.. "He moistened his lips. "... a girlfriend."

Quinn nodded without really believing those words, but then again, coming from her mother, anything was possible.

AN: Let me know if you want me to keep translating..

Or just review! :)