EAnIL – Thank you so much. It means a lot. I hope I can continue to make this story entertaining.
Agarza1538 – Hehe, I live for twists. A few more around the corner, I promise! Lol, patience, we'll get to Leroy! Maybe one – two chapters tops!
So I was trying to figure out how to end this story and where exactly to do that and I had an epiphany of sorts. I have a cunning plan, that involves there being two other parts to this story; a prequel and a sequel. This made me inexcusably excited! Sorry I just had to share my geekiness with you.
Anyway, on with the story.
Disclaimer: Blah, not mine, blah
I found myself back in my bedroom, stood staring into the mirror my sharp features. I could see the odd flash of my mother, but it was the parts of a stranger that I was trying to pick out. What did I inherit from my father? I lifted my fingers to my cheeks pulling gently at the skin, changing the image before me. A gentle knock on my already open door startled me. My mother was shifting slowly from one foot to the other, worry in her light brown eyes. "Are you ok?" I asked tentatively.
"You're father has disappeared." A tear slipped from the corner of her eye and it only served to make me angry.
"No. My father is safe and well and actually cares about me. Russell may have disappeared, but I can't see how I should give a damn about that." My voice was loud and harsh. She gasped at my outburst.
"Oh Qunnie! How..? When did you find out?" More tears were falling now, dirty tracks marking their progress down her cheeks. I just shook my head at her.
"All those times he punished me, over nothing, and you didn't stop him. You didn't say a word. Why would you do that?" I could feel the rage burning in my stomach; threaten to unleash the dragon in me. An instant before I reached that point I thought of my father. My true father. With his gentle rumble of a voice and his overwhelming pride in me. He wouldn't have wanted this. I shook my head again.
"How do you know about Alggren?" She repeated. Alggren. Now I knew his name.
"I was summoned to The Elders chambers. They wanted to discuss the circumstances that led to a human being our world." I heard my mother inhale sharply and then the gentle slap of her hand covering her mouth.
"I felt the shift, but it seemed different somehow. Less pure. You took a human over?" I looked her in the eyes, not backing down from her. If The Elders considered me punished enough then I wasn't going to explain myself to anyone else. She took a deep breath in through her nose, rolling her shoulders back in the process. I recognised the look on her face; it was the one she wore when Russell would punish me, cold and detached. "What is your penance?"
I cocked an eyebrow at her and folded my arms in front of my chest. "Nothing. They deemed me appropriately disciplined by that man." Her eyes flashed red for a moment, before settling to the light hazel that so closely matched my own.
"That's why they took him away? Because he saw fit to punish you?" Her tone was harsh, no traces of the love she should hold for her daughter. I knew Schian family wasn't as conventional as it should be, but I saw the way Santana's parents were with her. As close to a human family as you could get. They loved her despite her flaws; they even accepted that she loved a human girl. Fear tugged at my heart, only now the thought that my own mother would choose a man over me entering my head.
"He saw fit to abuse me," I bit back, my voice flat and emotionless. She scoffed at me.
"Abuse? You're an insolent child. If anything, he was lenient on you." She sounded disgusted and my stomach rolled in response. This was it. I fought to control my breathing, trying to even it out. "Pack your things. I don't even want to look at you."
All the breath left me as I felt my heart break in two. I gulped in air when my chest began to burn. "But Mum, I didn't do anything." She looked me up and down with distain.
"You think we didn't know about that little human harlot you've been courting? On top of that, you make sure The Elders take away my husband. You've done everything in your power to humiliate this family," she stepped back, distancing herself from her actions, "You've got 30 minutes." She turned and slammed the door behind herself. I slipped to the floor as the full realisation of the situation hit me. For a few minutes I welcomed the soul-wrenching cries that bubbled from my throat. When they had died down, I reached over to my phone and rang the first person I could think of. They picked up on the first ring.
"Santana? I need a favour." My voice shook with emotion and the last of the tears flooded down my already drenched cheeks.
"Quinn? What's happened? Are you ok?"
I shook my head even though she couldn't see me. "I've been kicked out. Can I stay with you for a few days?" The words hit me harder than any physical blow ever had. My mother, the one I had feared wasn't my own less than an hour ago, the one I had unquestioning loved had abandoned me.
"Of course you can, Q. Do you need me to come and get you?" Her voice was tender but had an edge to it. Again I shook my head.
"I'll drive over in a bit. I need to pack," I hesitated a second before adding, "Thank you San. This means the world." She mumbled something then said goodbye, embarrassed at the attention. I felt a little relief that I had someone. I stood and grabbed a suitcase from the closet. Guilt flooded me as I realised that I hadn't told Rachel. She should have been the first person I called. Though how I would explain to her exactly why I no longer had a home was something I could figure out. I made the decision to call her once I was at Santanas.
I stuffed as much as I could into my case, taking practical clothes then sorting through what I might need and leaving behind the frivolous things. In a separate, smaller bag I packed my laptop, some books, my toiletries and my schoolwork. I looked around my room once more and, satisfied that I had everything I needed, I made my way down the stairs to the front door. I slipped my still damp trainers on and shivered at the cold encompassing my feet. I carried my bags to my car, grateful that the rain had eased off to a weak drizzle now and returned to the house to make sure there really was nothing else I had forgotten.
I picked up a couple of jackets and turned to find my mother leaning against the back of the couch, her hand held out expectantly. I raised an inquisitive eyebrow at her. "Your key," were her only words. I swallowed the sob that threatened to break from my mouth and unhooked my door key from the clip and placed it in her hand. She folded her fingers around it and crossed her arms over her chest, not backing down an inch. I nodded once at her then turned on me heel and walked out the door, pulling it closed behind me.
I blinked back the tears as I drove, a headache forming at the emotions running through me. I found Santana waiting for me on the porch, concern in her eyes and anger in her heart. She said nothing as I got out the car she just held her arms open, pulling me into her embrace and rubbing my back soothingly. I allowed the tears to fall, letting out a sob every now and then until there was no more water there. She pulled back and ran her thumbs over my cheeks, wiping away the dampness there, flashing me a tight smile before moving to the car to get my bags. She lifted them easily into the house and I followed her to the spare bedroom. Once there she demanded to know what had happened so I explained everything, from The Elders and my parentage to my mother's actions.
"So, your father is not just AN Elder but THE Elder?" I nodded. "Wow. That explains why you're so up your own ass." She smirked at me and I understood her motive. I chuckled and nodded again.
"That'll do it. I have to call Rachel and tell her, she'll be mad at me if I don't." She hummed her acknowledgement and left me sat on the bed. I took a deep breath and dialled Rachel's number.
"Hi Quinn." She sounded happy to hear from me.
"Hey Rach. I…" I faltered, unsure of how to word my news, "I have something to tell you." I could sense her mood shift at my words.
"Is everything ok?" Her voice now held worry.
"Not exactly. My mother has… She has kicked me out. I'm staying at Santana's." She gasped and I heard a hollow clunk. "Rach?"
After a second of scrabbling I heard her, "Sorry I dropped the phone. She kicked you out? Why? What motive could she possibly have to throw her own daughter out on the streets?"
I blew out a breath slowly, knowing this wasn't going to go down well. "Because her daughter has a girlfriend and her husband has gone." I didn't want to give too many details about Russell leaving, if pushed I could think up a human excuse.
"Because of me?" She squeaked out.
"No, no of course not. It's because of me sweetheart. Don't you dare blame yourself. She just couldn't handle the truth about me." I soothed, wishing she was here. It was easier to ease her mind face to face with gentle touches and comforting expressions.
"But if we weren't together then this wouldn't…" She tried.
"It would've happened sooner or later. I couldn't keep up the lie for long." I interrupted her. "I promise you, this isn't your fault." I heard her sniffle then mumble her defeat. A door downstairs shut and I heard Santana's mother call out to her. "I have to go sweetie, I need to talk to San's mom. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Ok. I'm here if you need me. We'll talk tomorrow." We both rang off and I made my way down to the kitchen, hoping Santana had at least started talking to her mother about me staying. I found them talking quietly, seated at the table. They both looked up when I took a deep breath.
"Quinn, my poor dear." Maribel Lopez was small women with long brown hair and kind coffee coloured eyes. As I entered the room she stood up and rushed over to me, enveloping me in her arms and holding me tight. I choked back my tears and reciprocated the gesture. My eyes found Santana's and I was grateful for the compassion there.
"It's ok, I'll live," I joked, not wanting to break down again. "Is it ok if I stay here for a few days, just until I can find something more permanent?" I stepped back from Maribel, crossing my arms self-consciously over my chest.
"Ay dios. Mi querido, you can stay as long as you want to. You know this is your home." I felt my face flush in embarrassment, and nodded softly. She felt my slight discomfort at the attention and moved back, clapping her hands. "I bet you are hungry, huh? I'll start dinner." With that she turned and started preparing the food. Santana stood and took my hand, pulling me into the lounge.
"So, tell me about you and Berry. And I promise not to judge… or be mean." I smirked at her and settled on the couch.
"What do you want to know? And no, I'm not giving you intimate details!" She frowned for a second before a flirty grin lit up her face.
"That's implying there are intimate details to give! Spill, you've popped Berry's Cherry haven't you?" She was practically bouncing with enthusiasm on the sofa. I rolled my eyes, slightly disgusted with the way she worded that.
"No I haven't. Not that it would be any business of yours if I did. What ELSE do you want to know?" She chuckled and crossed her legs. I could see her thinking of something that wouldn't be crude so that I might actually answer it.
"Do you love her?" She asked with complete sincerity. I couldn't help the smile that formed at the thought of Rachel.
"I really do." She nodded her understanding, and I really believed that she did understand. "Who'd have thought it? Two badass Schian's both falling for humans?" I smirked.
"I know right!" She echoed my grin. "Though, you're not so badass!" I grabbed a cushion from behind me and flung it at Santana.
"I am way more badass than you! Might I remind you that my father is THE Elder!" I danced out the way as she threw the cushion back at me. I giggled as she lunged forward to tackle me, and tried to sidestep. Her arm wrapped around my leg and put me off balance so a spun into the challenge, landing on top of her with a thud.
"You are never going to stop going on about that now, are you?" She grunted out under the impact. A snort of laughter burst from my nose and I shook my head at her.
"Never!" I declared. I quickly pinned her arms down with my legs and reached back to job a finger in her side. She started laughing and kicking, trying to dislodge me from my perch on top of her. We traded positions several times, tickling each other mercilessly until we were interrupted by Maribel announcing dinner was ready.
"You may have grown taller, but you two still haven't grown up! What am I going to do with the both of you?" She asked the ceiling in mock despair. Santana grinned and gave her a peck on the cheek while I settled for a warm smile as we sat down and tucked into the delicious food. For the first time in a long while I felt relaxed in a place I could call home.
