Finally, right?
Rachel leaned back as she watched Kenzi snipe with Santana, and to her amusement the Latina looked thrilled to be interacting with someone who could apparently match her snipe for snipe. Quinn for her part was quiet, checking her watch more than once in the last two hours, clearly not mentally present at the table even surrounded by her friends.
Rachel reached over and grabbed her hand, "Quinn?"
The blonde offered her a small smile, "Yeah?"
Rachel squeezed her hand, "Are you ok?"
Quinn nodded as she murmured, "Just… I feel…"
Rachel shifted closer, "You already miss Lauren."
Quinn let out a relieved sigh, "Yeah, I get that she has a life now, but she's been gone for so long and I…"
"Quinn?"
Quinn was staring out of the glass window of the Lima Bean and Rachel followed her gaze, "Hey it's Lauren and Bo…"
Quinn nodded slowly as Lauren entered the coffee shop and strode up to the table, "Kenzi, Bo wants to speak with you outside."
Kenzi unfolded herself from her chair and demanded, "What does she want to talk about?"
Lauren's mouth curled into a Mona Lisa smile as she shrugged, "It is a best friend thing Kenzi, she'll tell you in a second."
Kenzi nodded slowly, "Alright… little sister's friends are alright by the way."
Lauren nodded as Kenzi rushed from the coffee shop and careened into Bo outside. Lauren for her part was almost glowing as she watched Bo wave a hand about. The succubus said something and earned what looked like an incredulous punch to the shoulder from Kenzi before the little Russian earned a shove in return. The two friends spoke a few more words back and forth before Kenzi let out squeal heard clearly even through the glass and launched herself at Bo.
Lauren beamed before turning away from the window and finally giving her attention to Quinn's friends, "Hello."
Santana was of course the first to speak up, "Holy crap Q… your sister is totally hot."
Brittany nodded next to her, "Totally… I'd do her."
Lauren's eyebrows shot up as she smirked, "You and Kenzi must get along great… and you must be Santana and Brittany."
Quinn tensed at Rachel's side, "How...?"
Lauren's whole being seemed to soften as she addressed her sister, "I listened when you talked Lucy Q."
Quinn's eyes shinned wetly as she dipped her head, so Rachel took it upon herself to introduce Lauren to their friends. To her relief everyone was polite, clearly understanding the stern look Rachel had in place as she introduced Lauren.
After introductions had been made Santana nodded towards the window where Bo and Kenzi were now hopping up and down outside, the very picture of over excited best friends, "What is that about?"
Lauren blushed as she took Kenzi's seat next to Quinn, "Bo was just sharing some news with Kenzi."
Rachel cocked her head, "It looks like good news."
Lauren smiled, "The best kind I think." She addressed Quinn, "Bo asked me to marry her Luce, and I said yes."
Quinn's jaw dropped as the rest of the table's attention snapped completely to the sisters, "She… really?"
Lauren nodded and that glow she had was back as she fiddled with her hands, "Just now, I wanted to tell you and Bo wanted to tell Kenzi."
Quinn's eyes shuttered, "I'm the first person you're telling? Not even mom?"
Lauren nodded and her hands twitched like she wanted to reach out and touch Quinn but she stopped herself, "You're still my best girl Lucy, not matter what or who else is in my life. I'm never disappearing again."
From across the table Santana's eyes narrowed as she demanded, "What do you mean 'disappearing'?"
Lauren turned and addressed Santana smoothly, "I was in the army and came across more than a few dangers, it… the dangers I encountered led me away from my family for a very long time."
Next to her sister Quinn nodded, looking more than a little mutinous as she muttered "Seemed like forever Lauren."
Lauren winced, "I know Lucy."
Quinn closed her eyes for a moment and when she opened them she looked apologetic, "But you're back now, and I know you didn't want to leave us."
Lauren's lips curled into a charming smile and across the table Santana, Brittany, and Sam swooned a little, "Mom and Dad sometimes Luce, but never you."
Quinn's eyes sparkled as Sam piped up, "I can't imagine Quinn as a little kid! What was she like?"
Lauren was quiet for a long moment before she replied, "She was gentle, and very loving, with a nasty kick when she was mad."
Quinn rolled her eyes, "I kicked you once."
Lauren nodded seriously, "And once was enough Lucy."
Mercedes leaned forward, as fascinated as everyone else with this new insight into the enigmatic Quinn Fabray, "Why did she kick you?"
Lauren wrapped an arm around Quinn's shoulders, "She wanted me to take her with me to Yale, which of course I couldn't, but explaining that to a three year old led to her hauling off and kicking me."
From next to the table a put out voice demanded, "Who kicked you?"
The table's occupants snapped to the two new arrivals. Rachel smiled at Bo who had already commandeered two chairs for her and Kenzi. The Succubus nodded to her but looked serious about her question.
From next to Lauren Quinn replied, "I kicked her, and she deserved it. I was still tiny when I was three; there was more than enough room for me in her dorm room."
Bo bodily moved Blaine's chair over so she could wedge hers next to Lauren as she leveled a now playful glare at Quinn, "I can't be held responsible for the consequences if you kick her again but it does sound like she deserved it that time."
Bo settled herself next to Lauren as the Doctor yelped, "Bo?!" She folded her arms, "I didn't deserve it and she could really kick!"
Bo leaned forward and placed a quick peck on Lauren's pouty lower lip, "I can't blame her for never wanting to say goodbye to you baby."
The reactions to Bo and Lauren were swift and typical.
Delighted "Awwws…" from Kurt and Mercedes.
And an "Oh god the cavities," from Santana were the audible reactions, while Sam colored a little and focused his attention away from the couple.
Rachel took the opportunity to introduce Bo to the teens around the table.
A moment passed and Mercedes rested her chin in her hands, "So how long have you two been together?"
Lauren colored and she and Bo shared a look before Bo picked up her hand and gave it a kiss, "We've known each other for a year and a half, and we've been together, like actually together for two months, and we'll be together forever, at least that's what Lauren promised."
Santana's eyebrow shot up, "Hang on, two months?! And she got a ring out of you?" She looked Lauren up and down, "Nice."
Lauren shrugged, "We were on and off for a while, life… it finally settled down as much as it could and we decided to give it a shot."
From next to Santana a powerful frown formed on Brittany's face, "San…?"
The table focused on the blonde as Santana smiled, "Yeah babe?"
Brittany folded her arms, "We've been together like all year right? And we were totally doing it way before then, which I think Bo and Lauren were doing to."
Santana nodded slowly, clearly sensing the same danger that Rachel was, "Ok…"
Brittany pouted, "How come I don't have a ring yet San?"
The table erupted into giggles as Santana's jaw dropped and a panicked look stole over her face, "Britt I…"
Next to her Brittany glared and Rachel spoke up, "Brittany… I… take it from me; teen weddings are exactly what they seem like, stupid. " She swallowed, "I love Finn, but by being so desperate to marry him I ignored my common sense which almost led to me making the biggest most permanent mistake of my life… baring an unfortunate tattoo in college." She shook her head, "You and Santana love each other, and I for one have every confidence you will be together forever, but just be in love for now ok, and when you do get married, years from now, we will all be right there to sing at the wedding."
Santana's eyes rolled but she muttered, "Thanks for the save Berry." She rubbed at her brow, and Rachel caught Lauren's eyes narrowing as her eyes traced over Santana.
Next to her Brittany announced, "Ok Rachel…" She turned to Santana, "But in five years, I want a ring."
Santana nodded rapidly as Kurt spoke up, "So are we still having the party tomorrow?"
Bo perked up, "Party?"
Quinn replied slowly, "Yeah, before you came home I was planning a glee swimming party, mom was on board, she figured it would cheer me up this time of year." She added quickly, "But if you say no Lauren we don't have to have the party."
The teens, Bo and Kenzi all let out disappointed sounds and Lauren turned to Bo, "Swimming party huh?"
Bo's eyes lit up, "Oh! Swimsuit!" She cocked her head, "Bikini?"
Lauren shrugged, "Sure, I'll have to go shopping for one though."
Bo traced her eyes over Lauren's form and Rachel caught the smirks on her friends' faces, "Let's do that now."
Bo made to stand and Lauren pulled her back down, "Actually honey, I was thinking that maybe I would go with Lucy…" She lowered her eyes and voice, "Get some sister time?"
Quinn perked up next to her as Bo softened, "Of course Lauren."
Kurt spoke up, "I for one need a new swimsuit, why can't we all go together?"
Lauren and Quinn's eyebrows shot up at the same time and they exchanged a glance, wondering if they were both ok with Quinn's friends encroaching on their sister time.
Quinn spoke up, "Well… you did just get engaged, so I guess it isn't fair to ask you and to separate yourselves just yet, and I do like shopping so we could do a group thing?"
Lauren nodded slowly, "I'm fine with that if it's fine with you Lucy Q."
Kurt and Mercedes let out twin squeals and stood while Mercedes spoke, "Let's go, we need time to really shop."
Kenzi bounced to her feet and Bo pulled Lauren to hers with a beaming smile, "Do I get to pick your bikini baby?"
Lauren shrugged, "Maybe I want it to be a surprise."
From next to them Kenzi rolled her eyes, "Ralph! What will be a surprise is if Lauren manages to stay in the bikini for more than an hour." She wagged a finger at them, "No dressing rooms, I mean it. A town this small probably has one mall and I do not want to be banned for life."
Bo swaggered out of the coffee shop with Lauren on her arm and the gleeks staring after them as she announced, "It would be worth it though."
Brittany nodded sagely, "It totally would be. They are both super hot Q."
The Lima mall was bigger than Bo had expected and Quinn's friends all seemed like good kids. Of course she'd yet to meet the incubus who had knocked up Lauren's kid sister but there was plenty of time for her to neuter him at the party so she was having a great time watching Quinn drag Lauren from store to store. She didn't hate lounging in chairs while Lauren modeled bikinis either.
The entire group had attached themselves to the older women, and she was pretty sure Santana and Brittany were enjoying Lauren in her bikinis nearly as much as she was. She knew for a fact that both girls were Fae, and had she been willing to out herself she'd have laid down the law but they seemed largely harmless though Quinn was getting more and more annoyed every time the two girls commented on her older sister.
Rachel was doing her part however to keep Quinn in a good mood, unknowingly though it was by happily modeling every bikini Kurt, Mercedes, and Kenzi offered her, which had Quinn suitably distracted.
They'd left yet another store empty handed for the most part when Quinn stopped dead, "Lauren…"
Lauren spun quickly and was at Quinn's side in a heartbeat, "Luce?"
It didn't seem like a bad thing though as Quinn pointed at the photo-strip booth and bit her lip, "Can we?"
Lauren softened and shoved the one bag she had into Bo's arms as she held out a hand to Quinn, "Absolutely, I need some new pictures of you and I."
Mercedes, Kurt, Tina, Sam, and Blaine announced their intention to head off to the Macy's while the rest of the girls waited as patiently as they were able by the booth until a strip of pictures shot out.
Bo seized them before Santana could and announced "I want a copy babe."
Lauren smiled at her and took the pictures, "Ditto." Quinn received them and reverently placed them in her purse in the book she had.
She ducked her head, "Thanks Lauren."
Lauren wrapped an arm around Quinn, "Of course Lucy Q." She bent and placed a kiss to the crown of Quinn's head and Bo could clearly see Lauren with a daughter of theirs someday. She might even look just like Quinn if Lauren carried her. She grinned stupidly as she pictured a bunch of little Laurens running around. Ethans and Charlottes and Elizabeths.
"Elizabeth…"
Lauren looked at her quizzically, "Bo?"
Bo bobbed her head, ignoring the looks from all of Quinn's friends, "That's my baby name. I want to name a baby Elizabeth."
Lauren's eyes lit up and she held out her free arm so that Bo could take her hand, "Elizabeth, Charlotte, and Ethan."
Bo nodded and Kenzi cocked her head, "You better hope two of those future kids are girls and not all boys because those are some girly ass names." She frowned, "And BoBo you had better not knock HotPants up anytime soon. I am too young and pretty to be an aunt to your love spawn." She waved a hand, "Wear protection from now on."
Bo rolled her eyes powerfully, "Kenzi I can't actually knock Lauren up."
She felt Lauren tense next to her, "Bo…"
Bo's eyes widened as she pulled Lauren away from the group, "Holy crap can I?"
Lauren shrugged, "It takes a ritual and all sorts of blessings but it is possible for two female Fae to have children together."
Bo rocked on her heels, suddenly excited before checking, "But I'm not going to accidentally get you pregnant am I, because Lauren, you and I have a lot of sex together, so the odds would have to be against us if I could right?"
Lauren rolled her eyes, "You aren't going to get me pregnant on accident Bo, when and if we have a child he or she will be planned." She fingered one of Bo's curls, "And hopefully they will have your hair."
Bo snorted, "Speak for yourself, I want a mini you."
Lauren grinned at her before the smile fell as she stared over her shoulder and called out, "Santana?"
The Latina was hunched over, clutching at her stomach, with Brittany hovering next to her, "San?"
Lauren rushed past Bo and placed a hand on Santana's shoulders, "What are you feeling Santana?"
Through ground teeth Santana replied, "I feel like something is trying to claw its way out of my stomach…"
Lauren's brow furrowed, "And in the coffee shop you had a headache?"
Santana nodded, "Yeah… you noticed that?"
Lauren nodded even as she demanded, "Any other symptoms?"
Santana looked up, pale with pain clearly etched on her face, "All night last night I was sweating real badly, and… I had pretty bad tremors." Lauren smiled gently at Santana as she slowly uncurled her arm from around her stomach and then blanched.
Very carefully she traced a finger over the angry rash on the Latina's arm, "How long have you had this?"
Santana shook her head, "I… that's new."
Lauren nodded and then pulled a pen from her pocket and marked the edges of the rash on Santana's arm before marking up an inch and then two.
Lauren clenched her jaw as a little of the color in her cheeks fled before she glanced around the mall and removed the necklace of the Ash from her pocket, "I work for the Ash Santana, I'm a light Fae doctor, and I am going to do my best to take care of you."
Santana stared at her before looking towards Quinn, "Q?"
Quinn nodded, "She's ok S, I'm Fae and Lauren has been a light Fae doctor for years." She wrapped her arms around her waist, "Lauren what's wrong with her?"
Lauren shook her head, "We need to go, now." She wrapped an arm around Santana's back, "Rachel call your dads, tell them we are on our way with a patient."
Santana looked alarmed, "What's wrong with me?"
Lauren smoothed a hand over her hair, "Let's just get you to the Berrys' ok?" She ordered, "Brittany, have you been in contact with your parents in the last few days?"
Brittany shook her head, "No they're out of town."
Lauren began leading them from the mall at a fast clip, "And Santana's parents?"
Santana spoke up, "We spent the night at my house, had dinner with them last night, why?"
Lauren closed her eyes, "Brittany, I need you to call Santana's parents and tell them that Santana is ill, and that they need to meet us at Rachel's house alright." She paused, "Have you been in contact with any other Fae in the last two days?"
Santana nodded, "Puckerman…"
Lauren drew in a breath, "Quinn call him now, tell him he needs to get to Rachel's immediately, as do any Fae he's been in contact with, tell him by order of the Ash."
Santana growled, "This isn't the Ash's county Doctor."
Lauren replied shortly, "The Ash outranks the Elm." She demanded a second later, "Rachel were you in contact with Santana or Brittany yesterday?"
Rachel shook her head slowly, "No…"
Lauren breathed a sigh of relief before barking, "Lucy, call Puckerman now. And Rachel, tell your dads to clear out of the house. I mean it, they need to get in a car and drive away."
Bo followed, trying to keep up with what was going on, "Lauren…"
Quinn fumbled with her phone as they hurried from the mall. As soon as they had Santana in the SUV Bo grabbed Lauren's arm.
"Lauren what is going on? What's wrong with her?"
Lauren ran a hand over her face, "I could be wrong Bo, but if I'm right we need to get to Rachel's and I need to call Hale."
Bo held Lauren's elbows, "Why Lauren?"
Lauren exhaled, "It… Bo I don't want to worry you alright? I'm probably wrong."
Bo's jaw tightened, "Lauren…"
Lauren offered her a small smile, "Whatever this is Bo, I'll fix it."
Bo pulled her close, "How bad is this? Is she in danger?"
Lauren cupped her cheek, "Fae don't get sick Bo, not like this, and this combination of symptoms is very specific." She pushed Bo towards the car, "We need to go now. Get us there as soon as possible Bo."
Bo climbed into the drivers' seat of the SUV and listened as Lauren dug for her medical bag. As she hit the gas and peeled out from the parking lot she could hear Lauren muttering.
"Damn it, it passed the first line!?"
A moment of silence passed and then Lauren demanded, "Faster Bo!"
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