Christmas had been quiet with Puck overseas and her Mom off travelling with her new Husband. Puck had managed to call Beth on Christmas Day which had made her happy, even just to know that he was ok. She couldn't imagine Christmas was any easier for Isabelle who had been with her parents. Antonio had been with his sister while his kids had been with Laura. He got them on the night. Quinn had spent the day with just her and Beth. Beth had been over the moon with all her presents. Antonio had even dropped one off from him and the kids. He had gotten her a beautiful wooden jewelry box that Beth had loved and put straight in her room. Quinn had gotten Diego a beginner's acoustic guitar and she had gotten Eva a beautiful dress Eva had shown her in a magazine.

Quinn and Antonio had agreed on no gifts. But she had come across some vintage leather boxing gloves and couldn't help herself. He had called her on Christmas morning to thank her and to tell her off for spending her money on him. She pointed out that she had found a beautiful white gold cross necklace hiding under her tree that she knew hadn't come from Beth.

After Christmas, Isabelle was having Puck's family over for a few days and had asked if Beth could go and spend the night. Quinn had agreed. Antonio had suggested they go out to dinner with Gabby and Matt like Gabby had asked at his parent's Christmas party. Quinn agreed.

She had put on a red fitted off the shoulder dress and curled the ends of her hair. She put on her black strappy heels and looked at her reflection in the mirror. It was a lot sexier than she usually dressed. But she was feeling a lot more daring these days. Antonio made her feel like she was the most beautiful woman in the world.

There was a knock at the door which surprised her. Antonio wasn't supposed to be picking her up for another 20 minutes. She went downstairs and opened the door.

A brunette woman she had never seen before was standing on her doorstep.

"Can I help you?" She asked.

"You can stay away from my children" The woman told her.

Quinn was a little taken aback when it dawned on her.

"Laura" She said

"I find out over Christmas that my husband is running around with some blonde in her twenties" Laura said angrily "Well you can stay far away from my kids"

Quinn wanted to scream that it was her ex-husband, but she knew there wasn't any point.

"Laura" She said calmly "I really think this is a conversation to have with Antonio"

"Trust me I will" Laura said "He's clearly lost it; I'll make sure I get my kids back too"

"Antonio is the best person for those kids" She retorted, she couldn't help herself.

"What would you know" Laura laughed.

"I know your daughter was devastated when her Mother dropped her for her new boyfriend" She said unable to hold her tongue.

Quinn could feel the anger rising in her. How dare this woman turn up on her doorstep and start shouting at her. Laura and Antonio had been divorced for over a year. Laura was with someone new. Quinn was nothing to do with their family issues. They had occurred long before Quinn was in the picture. Quinn had always felt empathy towards Laura. She understood how difficult things must be for all of them. But now she was crossing a line.

"And I'm supposed to take parenting advice from the slut who got knocked up in high school" Laura laughed coldly "I didn't think that would be the kind of thing to turn Antonio on, he used to have standards"

Quinn reacted out of anger in the moment and slapped her hard across the face.

"What the hell is going on?" Antonio asked jumping out of his car.

"Laura was just leaving" She said firmly glaring at the older woman.

Antonio had never seen Quinn look so angry. He'd never so much as heard her raise her voice before. She was always so calm and put together.

"Laura what are you doing here?" He asked.

"You're just going to stand there and question me when you saw her slap me?" Laura asked in disbelief "I'm the mother of your children in case you forgot"

Antonio looked angry. Quinn didn't want an argument on her doorstep. She was sure she had already provided enough entertainment for her neighbours.

"If you two need to talk, I suggest you leave and do it elsewhere" She said getting ready to shut the door.

"Quinn wait" Antonio said putting a hand on the door to stop her closing it "Laura, you should leave. We'll talk about this later"

"I'm taking the kids back" Laura warned him.

"They don't want to go with you" He told her "Now leave"

Antonio walked into Quinn's house closing the door behind him. He saw Quinn sat on the couch with her head in her hands.

He bent down in front of her taking her hands in his.

"I can't do this" She told him.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"I can't have your mother hate me, your ex-wife showing up on my doorstep calling me a slut" She replied "It's all too much, what if Beth had been here"

"Are you saying you want to break up?" He asked standing up.

"I can't talk about this right now" She said standing up and walking through into the kitchen to get a glass of water.

"You throw something like that out there and can't even answer me?" He asked with a hint of anger in his voice as he followed her through into the kitchen.

"Antonio right now I'm angry and hurting" She sighed "I don't know what to say right now"

She felt the tears ready to fall. Quinn never cried in front of anyone. There were plenty of times when she had been accused of not feeling anything because she refused to be vulnerable in front of people.

Antonio was ready to storm out when he saw her shoulders shaking. He put a hand on her shoulder.

"Don't" She cried.

He walked in front of her, tears were streaming down her face. He make-up was smudging. He pulled her too him wrapping his arms around her. He stroked her hair as she buried her face in his chest. He just let her cry for a while.

"Talk to me" He told her.

"Your shirt" She said seeing the mascara marks on it.

"Don't worry about it" He said.

"I must look crazy" She said pulling back.

"Still beautiful" He told her "Just with a few smudge marks"

Quinn got a damp paper towel and wiped under her eyes. She sat down at the table and Antonio handed her a glass of water. He sat beside her and took her hand.

"All the things she said, "She explained "It was all the worst things I ever thought about myself, all of the things other people used to say to me when I lost everything"

"What did she say?" He asked the angry edge creeping back.

"It doesn't matter" She said shaking her head "I just don't want her back here and I don't want you to lose your kids because of me"

"Neither of those things are going to happen" He told her "But I don't want to lose you"

"I don't want to lose you either" She admitted "I just don't want to ruin things for you"

"Quinn before you I was sat alone every night reheating pizza" He laughed "You haven't ruined everything"

"I mean I slapped your ex" She pointed out "That may have ruined things"

"Knowing how cool and level headed you are she probably deserved it" He said "But that was some hit, you ever think about boxing?"

"I'm not sure your masculinity could take me beating you at your favourite sport" She joked.

Antonio was happy to see her smiling. He thought she was going to throw in the towel. He was close to walking out as well. He knew he was going to have serious words with Laura. He loved Quinn and his kids, he wasn't going to let her take away either of them.

"Oh god your sister" She said.

"We don't have to go" He told her.

"Yes, we do" She said "I need as many people in your life on side as I can get"

"Gabby already likes you" He pointed out.

"Well not when we stand them up for dinner they won't" She sighed "Call her and let her know we're running late"

After Quinn, had redone her make-up she was ready to go. Antonio looked at her like it was the first time he had seen her. With everything that had been going on he hadn't really noticed what she was wearing.

"New dress?" He asked eyes running over her body in the figure-hugging dress.

"Yes" she replied biting her lip.

"Are you sure you want to go?" He asked running a finger over her bare shoulder.

"There'll be time for that later" She told him "come on, we're already late"

When they arrived at the restaurant Matt and Gabby were already sat at the table. Quinn apologized for making them wait for so long.

"Don't worry about it" Matt told her "We were late to with Gabby getting ready"

Quinn had a good time getting to know Gabby and Matt more. She hadn't forgotten the worries from earlier, but she was feeling a lot better about things. Gabby was full of stories about Antonio as a kid. He was apparently quite the troublemaker. Quinn loved the dynamic between them. She was sad she'd never had that with her sister. She was interested in learning about Gabby's time as a firefighter but now she was back working as a paramedic since they were fostering a little boy called Louie. She had looked at the adorable pictures Gabby had shown her and instantly saw how everyone was so in love with him. Gabby and Quinn had made plans to go out for drinks one night just the two of them. Quinn thought maybe Antonio had told her what had happened with Laura and that's why she was making such an effort. Antonio reassured her on the way home that it wasn't the case. Gabby just liked her, which made Quinn happy.

Antonio had been quick to settle the bill and take her home. Seeing her in the dress all night had been driving him crazy. He wanted to be alone with her and make sure she couldn't think about leaving him again.

Quinn was lay with her head on his chest.

"I wish it could be like this every day" She told him not sure if he was still awake or not.

"It can be" He told her sitting up.

"What do you mean?" She laughed.

"We can move in together" He said seriously.

"Antonio it's been two months" She pointed out.

"I thought you were going to leave today" He told her "I know I want you every day, I think we both know how we feel"

"The kids…" She started.

"So, we try it out" He said "It could not work out, but I think it will, I'm not saying marriage tomorrow, but if we could have more days like when I come home to you and all the kids then I want that"

Quinn was not the type of person to rush into anything. But the last few weeks with Antonio and all the kids together had been amazing.

"We need to ask them" She said.

"Is that a yes?" He asked.

Quinn nodded and giggled as he rolled her underneath him kissing her with a smile on his face.