A/N: Wow, I woke up with a lot of reviews on only the first chapter of this story. I hope you enjoy this chapter :)

Chapter 2 - Follow Up

There's nothing better than a fourth cup of strong black coffee on a Sunday morning to really wake you up. Rachel pads across the cold tile of her parents' kitchen barefoot. Her small steps echo in the seemingly empty house; she knows her fathers are upstairs still asleep. The sunlight streaming through half-open blinds lighten up her way to the front door when she hears a thud against it. Opening the door, she catches sight of the back of a newspaper boy. Bending carefully, not to spill her precious coffee, she grabs the newspaper from outside, sitting on top of their 'Welcome Home' sign and brings it inside.

She skips the boring stuff and jumps straight to the Entertainment news. She's caught up reading about Lindsay Lohan going back to rehab for the hundreth time when her father comes in the kitchen, yawning louder than he really needs to be. "Morning, baby." He walks to her, itching the back of his neck and plants one on top of her head.

"Morning, Daddy. Dad's still asleep?"

"Yes, he got held up at the restaurant late last night doing inventory. And you know Saturdays are his busiest days."

Rachel nods, "yes, do you think he'll want us to wait for him so we can all go to the Goldensteins' together or do you think he'll use this as an excuse to get out of it again?" She laughs lightly and starts pouring her Daddy some coffee.

"Well, you know your father - he doesn't like those gatherings." Her Daddy pushes his glasses further up the bridge of his nose and takes the Economy section of the newspaper to read while he sips on his coffee. They sit in amicable silence for a while until something hits him all of a sudden, "ah, it's your cousin's Brian second birthday party next Saturday afternoon. Your aunt Lily insists we all go."

Rachel groans out loud, "Aunt Lily is a bitch, Daddy." She hisses it at him, just so her Dad won't hear her in case he wakes up. "She's always giving me crap about wanting to be an actress."

He clears his throat and takes off his glasses. With both hands, he sets it on top of the table and says, "I know, baby, but this'll make your father happy. Just... Buy a gift, show up at around three and leave by four with an excuse." His tone is final, and even though she doesn't live at home anymore, she still respects his orders.

It doesn't mean she has to like it though, so she stands up and almost makes a perfect storm out of the room when she remembers it. She turns back around on her heels, "Can I bring a friend?"

The man with the curly hair looks at her with a measured look, thinks for a while, and agrees, "fine. But call your aunt to let her know."

"Cool! Thanks, Daddy." She leaves the kitchen on a mission.

She's been dying to call Quinn. She's been dying for a reason, itching to pick up her phone and ask her out, but she isn't even sure she's into women, and really, she doesn't want to freak her out. But now- this produces the perfect reason to call her and invite her to hang out. She didn't want to call her too soon after meeting her, or too late. Thursday would've been too soon; Tomorrow would've been way too late.

In a hurry, she picks up her phone from where it's charging on her nightstand. She unlocks it and only then she considers it might be too early. Well, she thinks about it and figures that a mother has probably been awake for hours now.

Without psyching herself out of it, she finds the number that belongs to the name and presses call. It rings once, twice-

"Hello?" Says a quiet voice on the other side.

Rachel stutters at first but corrects that by clearing her throat, "um, hi- hello, Is this Quinn?"

"Yeah, this is her. Who is this?" Quinn seems serious and impatient this morning, something Rachel hadn't considered and now she feels stupid for having called at nine.

"I'm sorry for calling so early. I just - I thought you'd be up. I - Gosh, I'm making a fool of myself, am I not?" By now Quinn is starting to recognize the voice and the rambling and smiles despite the fact that Beth just barfed all over her notes. Rachel is still explaining herself and she still hasn't come out and directly said it was her, but it amuses Quinn and it gives her a mental break. On the other side of town, where Quinn is trying to clean her notes, her mother shows up and takes Beth away with a smile and a pat to her shoulder.

Quinn smiles gratefully, and is able to focus on the call. She stands and rips off three paper towels from the stand on top of the counter and starts to rub the digested peas off her spiral. "Rachel." She simply says and the brunette finally stops speaking.

"How'd- did I? I don't remember if-"

"Hi, how are you?" Quinn takes it upon herself to ask. She figured it out quickly that Rachel speaks in circles sometimes, even if they do make sense at the end.

"I'm so good, thank you for asking. It's Rachel, by the way." She feels the need to add, even if Quinn called her out by name.

Quinn chuckles amusedly, "I know, I figured it out by the third word of your rant." She finally decides to throw her notes away. She grabs a sticky notepad and writes a memo on it for herself to grab the notes from a classmate. She has a test coming soon - a final on Wednesday. It's her last and most important one. The only one she's really worried about: Chemistry.

Rachel smiles because Quinn could already tell it was her. Then she remembers her manners, "How are you, Quinn?" She emphasizes the word 'you' and waits for a beat to ask, "and how's Beth? I meant to call earlier but I wasn't sure."

"I'm-" she looks around and sees the mess in the kitchen. The barf smell is still on her hands from when she tried to keep it at bay, and the tablecloth will probably stain so they might as well just throw it away. "I'm okay. Beth is healthy and... Well, being a baby."

A smile tugs at Rachel's lips as she remembers the way the baby girl held onto her fingers. "So listen, my father told me of this birthday party I have to go to next Saturday at around three. It's for my two year-old cousin and I have to take gift. And as much as I absolutely adore kids, Brian is a little devil and his mom hates me."

Quinn giggles and then asks, "okay. What does this have to do with me?" Even though she already figured out Rachel's intention. She's been thinking about Wednesday these past days and she had been really... Obsessing. She hoped Rachel would call; she didn't want her to. She wondered why Rachel hadn't called yet since she gave her her phone number. She beat herself up for not asking for hers back because then she could call. But really, she wouldn't have called.

"Well, I was wondering if you and Beth could come with me. We'd make a day out of it. We could buy gifts after lunch and head straight to the party then get the hell out," her words become laughing before she even finishes the sentence properly. She's nervous. Why is she nervous? She was nervous on Wednesday, too, when she first saw Quinn. The first and only thought that had occupied her mind was: 'she's beautiful - talk to her.'

Quinn makes a humming noise as she thinks. In her mind, she flips over the pages of a mental schedule with red markings and blue writing to see if she's free. School ends this Wednesday for her, and Beth doesn't have any medical appointments soon because they went yesterday. She's free from work until around 6pm that day. It seems like she doesn't even have an excuse to say no, even if she was half wishing she did. Rachel's too good to be true, and she really can't afford to develop feelings for a girl. But Quinn really enjoyed spending time with her; how she is so chill and judgment-free - she needs more people like that in her life. "Yes, I think I'm free. Beth and I will help you with the present and even suffer through the party with you."

"And let me buy you lunch?" Rachel asks hopeful.

Quinn replies with a, "I can buy my own, Berry." It's not meant to be malicious because she knows Rachel doesn't pity her. She understands this is how Rachel does things. But allowing Rachel to buy lunch implies more than she can accept right now.

To Rachel's ears it sounds like rejection though. She frowns and tries to fix what she said wrong, "I just wanted to buy lunch as a way to thank you but if you don't want to come I understand."

Quinn picks up on the sudden hesitance and chuckles mostly to herself, "no. I wasn't trying to reject you... Just, it'd make me more comfortable if we each bought our own, is that okay?"

Oh but Rachel likes a challenge. No, not likes - she loves it. Instead of conceding, she tells Quinn, "we'll see what happens then." She doesn't give her any space to complain because then she's already planning things, "I can come pick you guys up or we could meet up at the restaurant. To me, it doesn't matter. Just give me your address and I'll be there by noon."

Saving gas wouldn't hurt, and she doesn't want to alienate Rachel so much by also rejecting her offer to drive them. Plus, it's Rachel's cousin's birthday party- it'd be so weird to show up separately. "Noon is fine. I'll text you the address."

"Perfect! I'll see you then, then."

"Talk to you later, Rachel. Thank you for inviting us."

"Thank you for accepting. Bye bye." As soon as she hears the click on the other side of the line she throws her phone in the air then catches triumphantly. She lets out a yelp of excitement and rushes downstairs, barefoot feet sinking into the carpet on the stairs, to tell her father. When she gets to the kitchen, they're both awake.

"So... My friend said she'll come."

"Really?" Her Daddy asks. Her Dad, still looking mildly tired sends her a kiss from where he's sitting at their table for four. "Does she know this is a date in your head?"

Leroy chortles on his coffee from trying to laugh and drink at the same time and it hurts and burns. He coughs desperately to try to clear the airpassage, but can't help to continue laughing.

Rachel turns to her Dad franctically trying to clean his mess and then at her Daddy still sporting that stupid grin on his face. "It's not a date." She says with an eye roll and crossing her arms. "It's a kid's birthday party and we're just friends. I only met her recently and I don't even know..."

"Yes; because dealing with you for hours and not trying to rip off her own hair isn't a sign that she might like being around you..."

"Daddy!" Rachel throws a paper towel at him but it's too light so it floats back down on the counter. She breathes in deeply and then looks up at the both of them determined. "I do think she's... Gorgeous, okay? But she seemed introspective and shy and... I don't know... Uh, controlled? Like she is very cautious with every word she says and how she acts. I don't want to freak her out and lose her newfound friendship, so we're friends, understood?" They shake their heads up and down in unison, like she's seen them do so many times before, and then she continues, "so if and when you meet her, none of the girlfriends jokes and things like that. Make her feel welcomed as our friend!"

"Understandable, sweetie!" Her Dad shouts at her as she makes her way back upstairs to shower.

Meanwhile, in the Fabray residence, Quinn is staring at her phone, re-playing the conversation in her head. Her thoughts are interrupted by her mom, "Who was that, honey?"

"Oh." Quinn snaps out of it and stands from the chair, scraping its legs across the floor, to get Beth back in her arms. She stops halfway because she notices Beth is already clean and she is not. Instead she holds her phone tighter and replies as she passes her mother out of the kitchen, "just a friend."

Judy Fabray is a lot of things but she ain't dumb. She narrows her eyes at Quinn's back and follows her daughter up the stairs to her bedroom, "a friend? Quinn, I thought we talked about getting involved with guys so soon. Does he even know you have a daughter? He won't want to stick around and you'll-"

Quinn snaps and turns to face her mother who stops speaking and walking, still holding Beth. She controls her tongue before saying something rude in front of her daughter and decides to just go ahead and take off her clothes. She rips away her once beige shirt and throws it at a wall. Still pulling down her shorts she says calmly, "it is not a guy. It's just a friend."

Her words are measured. Judy smiles satisfied and waits until Quinn looks at her. "I just don't want you to get hurt. So what did this friend want?"

"Her cousin is having a birthday party Saturday and she needed help buying a gift."

"That's so smart of her to invite you! When you go, I want to meet her! Is she picking you up?"

Quinn internally struggles to keep from telling her mother about thinking Rachel is cute, but instead she smiles and says, "yes, she is. She insists."

"Well, good. Now go and shower because I have to leave for church soon. Are you sure you don't want to come?" She doesn't even have to think about it anymore, but she does pretend to anyway, to make her mother happy for at least a second. If she tells her mom she's still thinking about it, Judy won't ever confront her about not coming. "I'm still thinking about it, Mom. But thanks."

"Well, it's my Sunday time with Beth. We'll wait for you to shower so you can tell her goodbye," Quinn's in blue undies, standing under her mother's scrutinizing eyes. It always makes her feel shy. She places both hands on her hips where she swears she sees stretch marks - stretch marks she wouldn't have so soon if she had waited to have a kid while married. Now her future husband won't like her body as much as he could have, her mother has explained many times.

Yes, her mother sounds overbearing and at times judgemental, but truth is, she was there for her when Quinn told her of her pregnancy. It was such an ugly moment in the history of her family, but her mother stayed and didn't kick her out despite her own father's pleas. So he left. And Beth never got to meet her father. "Yes, ma'am. I'll be quick."

After the shower and saying bye to Beth and her mom, Quinn texts Brittany and Santana to come over. Might as well hang out with them if she can't study and has the free time. It's been a while since the three of them did anything remotely fun together.

She busies herself with cleaning the kitchen while they're on their way. Her mind runs a lot faster than her mouth, and she thinks of Rachel before she can even tell herself not to. Washing the dishes clears her mind, and it's something with somewhat of a pattern to keep her thoughts restricted. Lather, rinse, dry; lather, rinse, dry.

The heavy knock on the door tells her that they're here, so she finishes drying the cup in her hand as she makes way to open it. "Hi, guys." She says and smiles, throwing the drying rag over her right shoulder.

Santana's hand doesn't leave Britt's and she only nods at Quinn, "Fabray."

Britt, also not wanting to let go, simply hugs Quinn around her neck with one arm and pulls her into her. She smells like Skittles. "Hey, Quinn! What do you want to do today?"

"Where's Beth?" Santana asks, looking around the living room for any signs of the little bundle of joy. Santana always asks, even when she knows it's Judy's day to take her to church. Quinn and Judy have an agreement - Quinn doesn't have to go if she's not ready yet, but Judy has the right to take her granddaughter every other Sunday. "At church with Judy?"

"Yes," Quinn affirms and starts making way back to the kitchen. "Britt, I don't care what we do today. I got a break so let's just do something."

"It's not even ten yet," Santana points out.

"Have you girls had breakfast yet?" Quinn asks, looking back at the two. Santana is on the chair and Britt's on her lap, playing with stray hairs from Santana's loose ponytail. Santana is smiling up at Britt and Quinn feels just a pang of jealousy. She's always felt this toward them, but she had always figured it to be because they had found each other so soon in life. She had always been looking for her soul mate, and Santana and Britt had been handed each other; like God laid a hand or something. Now, she's jealous that they're so comfortable being with each other in front of other people. Two girls in love. The Latina barely nods; yes, they've had breakfast. Well, so had Quinn, but she is polite. "Okay, how about we go out to the living room and watch a movie or something?"

"Sounds good, Juno." Santana says affectionately, standing up and pushing Britt out of her lap gently.

"I can't be Juno. I'm not in high school anymore." Quinn argues anyway, even with the smile on her lips. She leads the way out of the kitchen and into the open living room. Its walls are white, and the decoration is a bit outdated but her mom insists it's lovely so they keep it. Beth's toys are all in a box to the left of the TV, and many more picture frames of the baby have been added to the place since Santana had last been here, so - two weeks. Judy and Quinn like taking pictures. "Speaking of school, do you still have your Chemistry notes for the second half of the course? I- Beth barfed all over mine this morning and I have a test on Wednesday."

Santana had this class over two years ago, but Quinn knows that Santana takes her schoolwork seriously and takes meticulous notes. She is hoping and praying that the Latina says yes. "I might have to look for it, but I can get it to you by tomorrow."

"Sweet," Quinn chirps and drops on her couch. Santana twirls Britt away from her and goes toward Quinn's movies collection to pick the movie for this morning. Britt lands over Quinn's body and they both giggle. Britt scoots off her and settles in the middle of the couch.

"Have we watched this one lately?" Santana raises the DVD in her hand for Quinn to look at the cover. "Um, Basic Instinct? Why do you even have this movie? Does your mother know about all the sex stuff in it?"

Quinn laughs, "I'm 21, I can watch whatever the hell I want."

"Petulant child, that's a lie. You can't do anything while still living with her. I still don't understand why you don't just move out and move in with me."

"I have a daughter?" Quinn supplies, as if Santana has forgotten.

"I know, so? Britt already babysits for you in the mornings, the only difference would be that you'd have to drop her off with your mom at nights."

Quinn shakes her head, "no, it'd be way more complicated than that. My mother would take it personal."

"Man, whatever. You know Britt and I are willing to help. Just say the word."

At this, Quinn's eyes almost tear up but not really. She just looks at the couple sitting next to her and smiles softly, "I know."

"So, any word on that chick you met?" Santana knows when Quinn needs to change subjects. She senses it. Britt lays her head on Santana's lap and stretches her legs over Quinn's. The young mother holds onto Britt's legs and pulls them to make Britt more comfortable as the movie starts to play.

Aloof, Quinn responds with a shrug, "she called today." She thinks that if she doesn't sound interested, Britt and Santana won't pick up on it, but they know Quinn. They know her for years now, and they can read her like a book. Sure, they come from different angles and use different methods, but they always get her to confess.

Santana laughs, Britt smiles. "She did? What did she want?" Britt looks away from the TV to give her the attention.

"She wanted to ask if I wanted to spend the day with her on Saturday."

"Sounds like a date," Santana says.

"It's not a date," Quinn frowns.

"Are you still being repressed about your feelings Quinn? It's okay to like her," Brittany promises. Quinn wonders how she even knows what repressed means, but figures Santana had to explain it a lot.

"I just met her, Britt. That's - weird. And," she pauses for dramatic effect, "I'm straight."

"Sure," Santana says and laughs again. This irritates Quinn, who throws her a look to kill. Santana isn't bothered by it though, "I mean, you're always saying that but when was the last time you dated a guy or even just had sex?" She tilts her head up to think and then, "oh yeah, over a year ago, when you let Puck fuck you at that stupid party and not even because you wanted to. Just because you felt 'fat.'"

"That doesn't mean I like girls, Santana. Just that I'm careful."

"Yeah, and look at where careful got you."

"Shut up. Can we just watch the movie now?"

"Fine, but - can you just promise me that you'll keep an open mind about this Rachel girl?" Santana pleads. When Quinn makes eye contact she can see that Santana isn't making a joke out of this. She's seriously worried for her. "Forget about your mom and her judging crap. Just see where it goes."

"I don't even know if Rachel likes women. It'd be presumptuous to assume she does just because she paid for my frozen yogurt." Quinn ignores the snarky remark on her mother's beliefs and just focuses on the other issue at hand - Rachel's sexuality. Quinn is straight, she knows that much. She only felt attraction for Rachel that day because let's face it, Rachel is beautiful, and she was giving her Beth so much attention. It pulled at her heart; her motherhood. Seeing Rachel treat Beth the way she did was the only factor why the stupid crush, but is four hours enough to tell? And the fact she's been thinking about Rachel ever since doesn't really mean anything.

"You know, you pretending not to like her would be much more believable if you didn't spend so much time thinking about her," Santana teases and pokes her. Quinn slaps her hand away but makes an effort not to smile. It doesn't go unnoticed by Santana, "You're doing a dandy job in pretending."

"Shut up." Quinn starts to blush and Britt giggles.

"It's okay, Q. Santana used to get like that about me."

Santana growls but doesn't deny it.

"I know, I remember." Memories of a flustered Santana in a red, white, and black cheerleading uniform blushing because someone teased hers and Britt's friendship come up and Quinn smiles. Santana would get incredibly red and try to ignore her feelings and the fact that everyone knew. Quinn was there to help her when she came out, and then when she admitted to being in a relationship with Britt. "Well, even if she does like women, she doesn't like me. I have a child, and that's way too complicated for everyone involved."

"You're just being complicated," Brittany explains. "Go out with her and see how you feel, and then play it by ear. Though I'm not quite sure why ears have to be involved. But! I'm sure she likes you; I have a sixth sense for these things and from what you've told us, I can just tell."