A/N: As always, I'm so grateful for the reviews, favorites and alerts for this story. My muse is cooperating with me and I've been inspired to write more than usual, hence the short period of waiting between chapters. Let's all hope it stays that way before work and studies get in the way again!
This chapter includes more parent interaction and some things are finally dealt with. I'm glad you're all enjoying Judy and Victoria. I can tell you from personal experience that it is possible to have this type of relationship with your parents or your kids.
This chapter is for Ryoko05. I can't believe you were late for a work meeting just to read the last chapter!
You can skip this last part and go on reading since it doesn't have anything to do with the story; I'm just going to talk about Dianna for a bit!
I was going to post this chapter later on in the week, but after the Dianna Agron riot on Tumblr, I have to do it today. I've laughed so much with the comments and the fangirling my stomach is hurting in a good way. And, wow, doesn't she look like an amazing kisser? Don't get the hate because kissing girls really is fun and she didn't say anything offensive at all. Come on now, we all know how sweet and caring she is. She'd never purposely hurt anyone, especially in a place like that. Some people need to stop taking things so seriously and chill out. Bottom line is she is still one of the most extraordinary women to ever exist and money was raised for a wonderful cause. Dianna Agron is made of win!
Chapter 12
Dinner was successful in cheering Santana up. After it, since it was still sort of early, they all went into the family room to watch TV. Judy and Victoria sat on the sofa while Quinn and Santana took the love seat. Quinn had sat close to one end and Santana had immediately laid down with her head on the blonde's lap and her feet renting on the other armrest. It was a position she had gotten used to since they had started having picnic lunches and one they both seemed to enjoy. As they watched some documentary about endangered species in Africa, Quinn played with strands of Santana's hair absently while her other hand rested lightly on her stomach. Santana, for her part, was playing with Quinn's fingers, tracing them, bending them, and sometimes scratching her nails on the palm of her hand.
Judy and Victoria observed them coyly, not wanting to give themselves away, and would look at each other periodically with knowing smiles on their faces. Victoria had figured having them over would cheer Santana up and make her forget about her grandmother for a little while. She loved how caring and careful Quinn was with her daughter, how she immediately wanted to protect her and make her feel better. She'd hated the time they had been apart because she knew Santana had been a little lost then, even if she never admitted to it. She could see the positive changes already and it'd barely been a week. They've been close since they were little and what was happening between them now wasn't hard to understand. They got each other on a different level and while she had loved Brittany, she knew that relationship would eventually cause Santana heartbreak.
Santana needed someone to challenge her, to be her equal and someone that would stand up to her when necessary. She needed balance in her life, someone that could match wits with her, someone that could tame her fiery temper without changing her. Quinn was that person - always had been - even before any of them had realized it. Brittany was sweet and loving, but she wasn't ready for anything serious. She was like a butterfly playing in a field full of wild flowers, flitting from flower to flower as the whim took her. And while that worked for her, it wasn't enough when Santana had finally gathered the courage to be fully open about their relationship.
She was really hoping Quinn could heal her daughter. That Santana could trust the blonde like she had before they lost their way. While Santana hadn't been fully vocal about their falling out, she had heard Quinn's named murmured enough to know it had hurt her to fight with her friend. The one time she had been sure things were bad was when Santana had told her about their fight in the hallway and how she had slapped her friend. She'd felt guilty about if for days, had cried plenty about it and Victoria had just held her and told her they would find their way back to each other when the time was right.
She just hadn't been expecting it to be this way. It was obvious they had always cared deeply about each other, but that was changing as well and she was hoping it was for the best. Both could use a little loving at the moment. She was a firm believer in love's healing power and as she watched Quinn lean down and whisper something that made Santana giggle, she couldn't help the smile from forming on her lips. Nudging Judy, she tilted her head towards their daughters so she could see it as well. Judy turned and looked at them, her features softening tenderly.
"So cute," she whispered as she turned to look back at Victoria. "I don't think I've ever seen them so into each other."
"I know!" Victoria whispered back. "It's sickeningly sweet."
"It couldn't have come at a better time if you ask me. They were both so lost."
"And now they're fixing each other without even realizing they're doing so."
"Want to bet Quinn wants to stay over here this weekend?"
"You know I wouldn't have a problem with it. She's welcome here anytime."
"Just like San is always welcomed at our place."
"Hola familia!" Antonio Lopez greeted as he walked into the family room. "How's everybody?"
He walked over to where the girls were before bending down to place kisses on both of their foreheads. Then he walked over to the older women and pecked Victoria's lips before kissing Judy's cheek and settling between them.
"Hi, papi. How was work?"
"Busy but good. I've been thinking I might need to hire someone else to help at the office. I didn't realize we'd have so many patients so fast and the waiting time is insane to get an appointment."
"That's 'cuz you rock as a doctor," Santana told him with a proud smile.
"Thank you for thinking so, princesa. I know you're going to be the same or better than me when it's your turn."
"Hiring someone might be a good idea. You're already beginning to come home later and I thought this was supposed to be better," Victoria chided playfully from his side.
"I know it. I'm starving as well," he hinted with a broad grin on his handsome face.
"Come on then, I'll heat up your food," Victoria said as she got up and extended her hand to him. Looking at Judy she motioned for her to follow as well. "I made flan for dessert, Judy. Come have some while we keep Tony company."
Santana and Quinn watched them leave before turning back towards the television.
"So, San and Quinn?" he asked once they were sitting in the dining room and he was tucking into his food.
Victoria and Judy exchanged smiles before looking back at him. "It seems that way, querido. I did mention they were fixing things, didn't I?"
"Well, you mentioned they were fixing their friendship, but what I saw in there looks like more."
"Aren't they adorable, though?" Victoria gushed.
"This isn't a problem, right, Tony?" Judy asked a little worried.
"Oh, no! Not at all. I just want them to be happy, Judy. We've missed having Quinnie over."
"Just like I missed having Santana over at our place."
"So are they dating?"
"No."
"What was that in there, then?" he asked confused as he took a sip of water.
"They're just being themselves," Victoria tried to explain. "We just haven't seen them act like that in a long while."
"But they look like more than friends, mi amor. I don't remember them being that close before, but then again I wasn't here a lot when they were. Have they always been like this and I just missed it?"
"Well, they've always been sort of touchy feely with each other," Judy told him. "But now it's as if they can't help themselves. I don't think they even notice they're doing it half of the time."
He looked at her closely for a moment, chewing thoughtfully on his food. "And you're okay with it?"
"I am," she assured him. "After everything my daughters have been through because I couldn't stand up to Russell for years, the least I can do is be supportive of whatever they want to do now. Like I told Vicki, if Santana is who makes Quinnie happy, I'm going to support their relationship."
"I'm glad to hear it. I knew you'd get rid of that scumbag you had for a husband eventually. I don't know how I didn't beat him up when I had the chance."
"Because you're a good, decent man, Tony, but thank you for caring so much about me and my girls."
"Have you heard from Fran?" he asked quietly.
Judy looked away for a moment and shook her head lightly. "I think she hates me. We haven't talked in a really long time. She doesn't even call Quinnie and it's not her fault."
He exchanged a look with his wife before turning back to look at Judy. "We'll fix that, too, you'll see. I mean, you ladies are like family to us and we take care of family. Now that San and Quinnie are back together, we'll work on Fran. Nothing is lost yet."
Judy gave them a watery smile. "I appreciate that more than you know."
"Now, let me ask you something. Are you open to dating?"
Her eyebrows rose so high Victoria laughed a little. "Come on, Judy, we had a good time the other night at dinner with Tony's cousin."
"Yeah, but he doesn't even live here. I don't want a long distance relationship."
"I wasn't talking about Pedro. I was just wondering because there is someone I kind of want you to meet."
"Oh?" Victoria piped in. "Who is it?"
"One of my colleagues at the hospital. He hasn't lived in town long and he'd be perfect for you, Judy. He has a couple of kids but they're already in college and he's been single for a while."
"I don't know about this, Tony."
"If I didn't trust him I wouldn't introduce you to him, Judy. He's a really good guy."
"Why don't we all go to dinner together like we did with Pedro? That way you guys can meet each other and if you like him, we can go from there," Victoria suggested. She knew her husband wouldn't set her up with someone that wasn't worthy.
"What about the girls? I don't know how they would feel about me dating again."
"I'm sure they want you to be happy. Talk about it with Quinn and then give us an answer and I'll talk to Phil about it."
Judy nodded. "I guess having dinner together won't hurt anything."
Victoria beamed at her. "It's going to be great, you'll see. And it will get you out of the house. Just because Russell was a complete ass doesn't mean you should spend the rest of your life alone, Judy. You deserve to be happy as well."
"Is something wrong with our parents?" Quinn asked a few minutes after the adults had left.
Santana looked up at her and frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Well, none of them seem surprised to see us like this. Like you laying on my lap and me playing with your hair is the most natural thing in the world."
"We're not doing anything wrong, babe. We're been like this since last weekend and I'm sure we did it before as well."
"I guess. It just seems so surreal."
"Would you rather they were bitching about it or telling us we couldn't spend time together? Not every parent out there is understanding about things like this, Q. We should be happy ours are pretty cool about it."
"You're right. I guess I'm just so used to it not being okay while my dad was home. He was such an ass about everything that didn't have to do with church and values. And look how well all of his preaching ended. As long as it was him cheating and breaking the rules it was okay."
"Let's not talk about that douche," Santana suggested when she saw the sadness clouding Quinn's eyes. Sometimes she truly hated Russell Fabray for all the emotional and physical damage he had inflicted on his family.
"So what do you want to talk about? Want to tell me why you were crying earlier?"
Santana looked at their intertwined fingers. "Mami and I were talking about abuelita," she answered so quietly that Quinn had to strain to hear her.
"Did something happen?" she asked as she ran her fingers over her scalp, nails scratching a little in that soothing way she knew Santana liked.
"Not really. I was just talking about it and got a little emotional."
"But you're okay now, right?"
"You're here and that made me feel better," she admitted.
"Aww, Muffin," she cooed. "That's so sweet of you!"
Santana looked up at her again, her eyes roaming over Quinn's face for a moment before deciding to take the plunge.
"Go out with me this weekend."
Quinn's fingers stopped moving against Santana's scalp as she stared down at her in surprise. "What?"
"I want to take you out this weekend."
"But, I thought you wanted to wait, Tana."
"I'm allowed to change my mind, aren't I?"
"Is this about Rachel again?"
Santana frowned and tried to get up, but Quinn wouldn't let her. "This is not about the dwarf," she said through gritted teeth as she settled back down on her lap.
"Are you sure? I mean, I told you I'd wait until you feel like you're ready."
"I know that, but I think we should at least try it, don't you? I mean, it could be fun and we'll take it slow. I'm not asking for a lifetime commitment right now, but I'd really like to take you out."
"So no promises? We just take it slow?"
"Very slow, if you don't mind."
"What changed your mind?"
"A conversation I had with mami earlier. She pointed some things out and I know she's right."
"We can take it as slow as you want, Muffin. This is new for me as well and I'd rather we don't rush into anything."
"So you'll go out with me this weekend?"
"Can I think about it?"
Santana frowned a little but nodded. She hadn't been expecting that answer but she knew she had been sort of sudden with her request.
"Yeah, I mean, we don't have to if you're not ready."
"I just wanted to see if you'd wait for me," Quinn said as she smiled down at her. "I'd love to go out with you."
"You suck," she pouted. "And playing the Rachel card is so not fair."
This, of course, only made the blonde laugh. "You get so riled up about her I can't resist. Seriously, Muffin, I'm not interested in Rachel that way. We've just found a way to get along and we actually seem to understand each other. I don't want her to be a problem for us."
Santana sighed and looked away. She knew what she was feeling was very close to jealousy because they were entering uncharted territory and she didn't want anything or anyone messing it up for them.
"Does that mean I have to be friends with her now?"
"No, not at all. I'd like for you to stop trying to scare her half to death most times, and maybe you could find something else to call her. Dwarf is really not very nice."
She scoffed. "We called her worse than that and you know it, Q. Dwarf is actually nicer and fitting."
"I know and it's something I regret doing. We've talked about it, I apologized and she forgave me. It's when we started getting closer."
"Wait, just how close are the two of you? Has stuff happened between you that I need to know about?"
Once more she tried to get up, but Quinn wouldn't let her and she settled back down, a deep frown on her face. She refused to believe she was that whipped already!
"Muffin, nothing has happened so stop thinking that way. Yes, we hang out sometimes; we've been to the movies and a couple of local plays. She's been over for dinner with me and mom but we're just friends."
With each revelation, Santana's eyebrows rose until she was staring at Quinn, mouth slightly open in surprise but no words were coming out. Quinn looked at her with a little frown of her own as her fingers rubbed lightly between the dark eyebrows trying to ease the scowl from her beautiful face.
"Tana, what's the matter?"
"Just, damn, where the hell was I during all of this?"
Quinn looked away from her for a moment, not sure how to answer that question without hurting the Latina.
"Well, um, you've mostly been with Britt. We haven't been close for a while and I just needed someone to be there for me sometimes. It got lonely without you guys."
Santana closed her eyes and sighed sadly. One more reminder that they had abandoned each other but she'd still had Brittany in her life while Quinn had to go at it alone. It had always been the three of them for as long as she could remember and while they had other people in their lives, they weren't people they fully trusted.
"I'm sorry, Q. It never should have happened that way."
"I know and I'm sorry as well. I did push you guys away every chance I got."
"I know we talked about this before, but I promise you from now on it will be different, okay? You're not alone anymore."
"That's good to know but is Rachel going to be a problem between us?"
"I guess not. As long as she knows her place I'll try to be cool about it."
"Her place?" she questioned with a little chuckle. "And what is that exactly?"
"She is just your friend and it's going to stay that way."
"Hmm, is that so?"
"Hell yeah, because if not, I'm gonna go all Lima Heights on her tiny ass!"
Quinn laughed again. "Oh, Muffin, you really are cute when you're all jealous and possessive."
"Hmph," Santana grumbled as she turned back to the TV.
She did grab Quinn's hand and placed it back on top of her head so she could continue to run her fingers softly through her hair. She wasn't sure why she had stopped to begin with and she liked it too much to let her. When Quinn immediately did as she was hoping, she smirked.
Yeah, that's right, Blondie! Who's whipped now, huh? She thought as she settled more comfortably on her lap. So what if she was being ridiculously childish and immature? She was Santana fucking Lopez and she'd be damned if she was pussy whipped so quickly!
Later that night, as Judy and Quinn walked into their home she knew she had to let her mother know what was happening. She was done with lying and keeping things a secret. If she was going out on a date with Santana, she didn't want to hide the fact from her mother.
"You've been quiet since we left the Lopez's. Is something wrong, darling?"
"Not wrong, no."
"But there is something going on?"
"Yeah, you could say that?"
"Go change into your pajamas and I'll make us some tea. I'll meet you in your room okay?"
Quinn nodded and did as Judy said. It wasn't long before her mother came into her room, changed into pajamas as well.
"I made fresh ginger tea and added a splash of milk. It should soothe you and help you sleep better."
"Thanks, mama," Quinn said as she made room for her mother on the bed and patted the space next to her.
Judy smiled as she handed Quinn a delicate porcelain cup and saucer and set hers on the side table before settling in next to her daughter. She then picked up her cup and took a delicate sip. They chatted about having dinner with the Lopez's and about their week while they finished their tea.
"I don't remember how old you were when we last did this," commented a few minutes later.
"I think I was about twelve," Quinn told her quietly.
Judy felt as if a knife was piercing her heart painfully. Her eyes watered a little as she heard the slight pain in her beloved daughter's tone. "I'll never understand how I lost all of my strength and belief in myself and let Russell change me so much, darling. I know I've been a terrible mother to you and Frannie."
Quinn set her cup down and put her arm around her mother's shoulder, resting her head against it. "Don't be so hard on yourself, mama. I know you didn't have it easy."
"Don't make excuses for me. I should have stood up to him. Look at where being silent and submissive got me. Frannie doesn't even talk to me, she probably hates me and I let him throw you out of your own home with nowhere to go. You should hate me as well."
"But I don't. I won't lie, mama, I wish you would have stood up to him, I wanted you to hold me and tell me everything was going to be okay, but I knew what would happen to you if you did. I think that's what kept me from hating you."
"What do you mean?" the older blonde asked carefully.
"I know what he did to you," she whispered. "I always knew and there wasn't anything Frannie or I could do about it other than hold each other in the dark and hope it wouldn't be too awful."
"Oh, sweet Lord, I didn't know you knew," Judy sobbed as she wrapped her arms around her baby. "I'm so sorry, Quinnie."
"We were so afraid to get in the way. I always wanted to run into your room and try to stop him, but Frannie never let me. And when she left, I was so afraid of him that I couldn't do anything but sit in here and try to block it out."
"Darling, I'm so so very sorry. The only thing that made it at least bearable was that he didn't take his drunken anger out on you girls. If he had…" Judy stopped talking suddenly when she felt Quinn's body stiffen in her arms. "Oh, Jesus, he did, didn't he?" she sobbed again.
"Sometimes," came the tiny reply. "Not as often as he did to you, but when you weren't here, he'd come after us, and just me after Frannie left."
Judy couldn't stop the sobs that were tearing her soul apart. It was one thing to take the abuse when she had figured she was saving her daughters from the same fate, but another thing all together to know that her sacrifices had been in vain. She went to pull away from Quinn, shame and disgust with herself chocking her, but surprisingly, Quinn held on to her tighter.
"It wasn't your fault, mama. When he got drunk like that there was no reasoning with him. We were all victims of his rage."
"My job as your mother, which I completely failed, was to protect you from the monster he became. He wasn't like that when we got married or when you were little. He changed as he got more and more successful and started drinking more."
"We don't blame you. I know Frannie doesn't talk to us anymore, but I think she wants to. I think she just felt like she couldn't do anything about it and when she left she probably thought she was abandoning us."
"She has every right to hate me, darling, and I could deal with it because I deserve it, but I hate that she doesn't even talk to you anymore."
"She will if I call her. It's not like she ever asked me not to call her. We just sort of drifted apart but it can be fixed. She probably feels guilty as well."
"Why would she feel that way? She has nothing to feel guilty about."
"Because she was able to get out and we weren't. We still had to stay here with him."
"I hope that's not the case because I'm glad she got out. I hate that you weren't able to but I hate even more that I didn't do anything to stop it sooner. It wasn't until he cheated that I found the courage to finally ask him to leave."
"I've always been curious as to how you managed that."
"I had incriminating evidence that would ruin his reputation with his business and church. I gave him two choices: leaving quietly and never looking back or I was going public with the pictures and videos I had of him with that woman. I also made sure that when we divorced, we were set financially, that your college tuition was taken care of and that he didn't come by here anymore. He doesn't even have visitation rights."
Quinn smiled for the first time since they had started their conversation. "I knew I got my cunning from somewhere and it sure as hell wasn't from him! I'm proud of you for finally standing up to him, mama. Even if it took a while."
Judy's tears fell again as she cupped Quinn's face tenderly and kissed her forehead. "I don't deserve such a wonderful child like you but I'm so thankful I have you and your sister. The only thing I'll always thank him for is giving me both of you. As bad as I've been as a mother, I never stopped loving both of you with all of my heart and I only want the best for you."
"I think from here on out that is going to be possible. He was the dark cloud over this family and he's no longer here and he has no say in anything we do. We're free, mama."
"That we are, darling."
"Do you think you'll ever want to be with someone again?" she asked after they had settled down on the bed. Quinn covered them both with the comforted and moved closer to snuggle into her mother's arms like she used to do when she was little.
"Well, I did have a good time when I went out to dinner the other night with Victoria, Tony and Pedro. It surprised me that I was actually comfortable with them in that type of situation."
"But doesn't he live really far from here?"
"He does. But going out with them showed me that maybe there could be a chance for me to be happy again with the right man if he was to come along."
"I'd be supportive if you wanted to date again, but only if I knew he was a good man that treated you as you deserve, mama. I don't want you to suffer anymore."
Judy smiled as she kissed the top of her head. "So if I went out with Victoria and Tony and a doctor friend of his this week you'd be okay with it?"
Quinn was silent for a moment before deciding she could bargain a little bit. "Well, I could do that as long as you do the same for me."
"Oh? What do you mean by that?"
Quinn actually felt her cheeks reddening. "Santana wants us to go out this weekend," she said quietly.
"That's fine, baby. You know I don't mind when you guys hang out."
"No, mama, go out as in a date," she clarified.
Judy's eyebrows rose in surprise. "She finally asked you out? That's great, darling!"
"Wait, what?"
Her mother actually giggled. "We've been waiting since last weekend for one of you to cave in."
"Who's we?"
"Vicki and I. Also, Tony already assumed you were together and we had to explain to him that you weren't yet."
"Oh my God! Are you serious?"
"Why yes, darling. Why wouldn't I be? Now, Quinnie, you're headed for an Ivy League next fall so we all know you're a brilliant girl. Surely you weren't totally oblivious to what was happening between you the entire weekend. What is still happening between you a week later."
"This is so embarrassing," she murmured against her mother's neck, where she had buried her burning face.
"I don't see why it is," Judy told her as she rubbed her back in soothing circles. "Did you think I would object?"
"Well, mama, this wasn't the most open-minded household growing up."
"Touché, darling."
"So you're okay with me dating a girl?"
"I'm okay as long as you're happy. I've learned that in the end, you happiness is what matters most to me."
"I'm looking forward to it," she confessed. "I've never looked forward to a date as much as I am looking forward to this one."
"I think that's because it's Santana."
"What do you mean?"
"There's always been something special between you two. You just lost sight of it when you entered high school and forgot how to be friends and became competitors instead. Victoria and I have been discussing it a bit and we're both supportive of you two."
"I can't believe you've been discussing us!"
"Well, it was hard not to notice how clingy you've both become! It's priceless to see."
"Mama, stop!"
"Aww, you're embarrassed. It's so precious!"
"I'm turning the light off and we're going to sleep."
Judy giggled like a school girl and Quinn couldn't help but smile at her. "Thank you," she whispered.
"What for?"
"Being there when it counts the most. I love you, mama," Quinn said before turning off the light and snuggling back into her warm and comforting arms.
"I love you more, darling girl," she whispered as she kissed her forehead.
She surprised Quinn when she started rocking her slowly and singing one of her favorite lullabies. Quinn's eyes filled with happy tears as she held onto her tightly and she finally fell asleep with a smile on her face.
For the first time in a very long time, she knew they were going to be okay.
Hope you liked! Let me know what you thought of it.
