A/N: One more chapter before Quinn enters McKinley. Next up some shopping and Faberry women bonding, maybe. Hope you like this chapter. I tried to be realistic about how this type of meeting would go and all the emotions involved. Quinn is happy and relieved to be staying, she is even grateful, but she is still far from trusting Judy and the Berrys. Insecurity and fear still rule her emotions. Judy and Quinn still have a long journey before them. Please review and thank you to all of you who have reviewed each chapter and listed this as a favorite story. Disclaimer: I do not own GLEE or any of its characters. GLEE belongs to its creators and FOX.

Chapter 11:

To say Quinn was nervous was the biggest understatement ever made, okay maybe not ever made, but she was very very nervous, almost as nervous as she had been when she told her father or Judy that she was pregnant. Quinn felt she was justified in being nervous and a little afraid. She was about to meet her mother's family, well the family Judy choose to create for herself. The Berrys were everything to Judy and Quinn knew it, it was obvious in the way Judy described each member of the Berry clan while they watched television all day. Leroy was Judy's oldest and best friend, the brother that Judy never had. Hiram came a close second in the brother department for Judy and was often the more sympathetic Berry man. Then there was Rachel. The girl who was only a few months younger than Quinn who apparently was vastly talented when it came to singing, was kind, and a good friend. Quinn couldn't help but see the girl as her replacement, the upgrade from the model that Judy left behind.

Shaking her head from that line of thinking Quinn pushed open the door into the main house. Judy had headed over a few minutes earlier and told Quinn to take her time and come over when she was ready. Steeling herself like any good Fabray Quinn made her way towards the kitchen where she could hear voices coming from.

Upon entering the kitchen a pain shot through her heart. Leroy Berry was standing behind his husband his chin resting on the shorter man's shoulder as Hiram washed some veggies. Judy was at the oven leaning in, apparently checking to see if whatever was for dinner was finished, and Rachel was gathering together plates and utensils. The foursome moved in tandem and never got in one another's way. It broke Quinn's heart to see, it wasn't fair, this should have been her life. Instead she spent evening after evening cooking for her father to only have him ignore her and eat silently across the long formal dining room table from her.

"Quinn!" Rachel Berry's voice alerted the adults to Quinn's presence. The brunette placed the plates down and rushed over to Quinn and before Quinn could react she found herself in a tight hug. "It's so good to finally meet you. I have been asking Daddy and Dad all week when I could come visit you. I must say you are a very pretty girl, the prettiest I've ever met."

Quinn was startled by the exuberance of the other girl and of her generous compliment. Quinn knew that with the combination of having pneumonia and being pregnant, she was not looking her best at the moment. Rachel let her go and dark brown eyes met Quinn's hazel, there was such life and joy and laughter in those eyes, an innocence that Quinn hadn't felt in years if ever. "Uh…thanks." Quinn mumbled as she took a not so discrete step back from the female Berry.

"Rachel dear give the girl a chance to breathe before you smother her." Hiram Berry laughed as he too gave Quinn a hug, clearly he was the reason Rachel thought nothing of hugging someone she'd just met. Thankfully Hiram let her go much quicker than Rachel had.

Leroy stepped up after his husband had moved to the side; Quinn tensed preparing herself for another hug assault when a dark hand was placed in front of her. Quinn looked up at the owner of the hand and received a wink in return, in relief Quinn gratefully took Leroy's hand. He had a strong firm handshake but it wasn't over powering. Quinn's father had always told her that you could tell the true character of a person by their handshakes. Soft limp shakes belong to weak minded and self-conscious people, over powering shakes were given by arrogant people or someone trying to overcompensate. Firm strong handshakes belong to confident, self-assured individuals. "Always give a firm handshake Quinn, it is especially important for a woman to appear independent and confident. You are a Fabray; let everyone know what that means." Quinn's father's words rung through her head and Quinn concentrated on meeting Leroy's pressure equally and firmly.

"Nice to meet you Quinn."

"The pleasure is mine, Mr. Berry."

"Leroy please. It gets very confusing here when Mr. Berrys begin to be fly around."

Quinn could help but smile a little at that, "I am sure it does. Thank you for having me for dinner and letting me into your home. It is lovely, sir."

"Nonsense, Quinn, your family, your always welcome," Hiram waved off her pleasantries. "Now come on dear, you can help Rachel set the table." Quinn sighed she was actually relieved to be asked to help set up for dinner instead of being treated like a guest.

As Quinn passed her mother she received a smile which Quinn returned. So far so good, now she just prayed the rest of dinner would go as well as the introductions had.

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The preparations for dinner continued in a comfortable silence. Judy felt herself relax some as the group moved into the dining room to eat. She'd been extremely nervous of how the introductions would go especially when Rachel so enthusiastically tackled Quinn in a hug. If Judy had learned anything from about her daughter in the last few days it was Quinn was not comfortable with physical affection. It appeared to be practically foreign to Quinn and she didn't know how to act when hugged or comforted. It was apparent that Quinn was a little terrified when Rachel and then Hiram hugged her, those two never quiet understood that not everyone was comfortable with physical displays of affection, thankfully Leroy had simply offered his hand to Quinn, something Quinn clearly appreciated and respected.

The tofurky and London Broil were on the table now along with the salad, mash potatoes, and bread so it was time to eat. Everyone began to grab at the food only to pause to see Quinn looking around confused and her hand folded to pray. Judy prayed before every meal, but not when dining with the Berrys, though Hiram was Jewish and Leroy Baptist, neither were particularly practicing except for Hanukah and Christmas.

"Oh, I'm sorry Quinn, would you like to pray?" Hiram asked gently. Quinn glanced towards Judy obviously asking for guidance.

"I think that might be a good idea, Hiram, perhaps it is time this family rediscovered its faith." Leroy replied for Quinn. Judy smiled gratefully at him.

"I um, I don't want to make you all do something you aren't comfortable with, it's just…" Quinn trailed of and looked away.

"Just what sweetheart?"

Quinn didn't look back as she answered, "well my faith, it's… it's all I have left." Judy masked the hurt she felt at Quinn's words, though when Quinn looked back at Judy she closed her eyes, "I mean, when I was in my car, all alone and freezing, I'd talk to Him, ask Him for strength, to get me through to the next morning, He comforted me when I had no one. He brought me here."

Judy reached over and placed her hand over Quinn's, "He did, and I am so grateful."

"We all are." Leroy smiled, "How about you start off for us Quinn, our first prayer at dinner as a family."

Quinn lowered her head and everyone followed, "Dear Lord, we thank you for the food before us, we thank you for our health, we thank you for your love and forgiveness. Tonight I thank you above all for bringing my back to Judy and bringing the Berrys into my life. This we pray, Amen."

"Amen."

As the food passed around Judy could tell Rachel was bursting to ask Quinn questions and as expected as soon as her tofurky was on her plate Rachel turned to Quinn, "So Quinn what did you do at your old school?"

"I was the head cheerleader." Rachel's face fell at Quinn's response. Judy knew why, Rachel hadn't had the best experiences with the cheerleaders at McKinley, the head cheerleader seemed to have it out for Rachel and now the girl was in the Glee club, Judy suspected to keep an eye on her boyfriend Finn, Rachel's newest crush.

"Oh, that's nice." Rachel responded as she pushed around her food.

"Is something wrong with that, Diva?" The edge in Quinn's voice was palpable.

"No, it's just the cheerleaders are all mean." Rachel challenged back, and Judy was getting nervous.

"Well, you've got be peg now don't you? Forget that I was the President of my class both last year and this year, or in the photography club, and the literature club. Nope I'm just a bitch."

"Quinn." Judy admonished, surprised at her daughter's language.

"Rachel, apologize." Leroy said at the same time. Things weren't going well between the two girls, and Judy didn't understand why, they didn't even know each other and Judy could feel a tension growing.

"Sorry, I didn't mean anything by it Quinn, I just don't have any good experiences with the cheerleaders, even the ones in Glee with me."

Judy saw Quinn take a deep breath, "It's fine, I over reacted. So you're in Glee? Do you like it?"

Rachel brightened up, "I love it. I am going to be on Broadway. What about you? What are you going to be?"

Quinn just stared at Rachel for a moment; Judy saw her hand fall to her stomach and rub it unconsciously, "Out of Ohio," was Quinn final response.

Hiram took that moment, in which Rachel seemed confused by Quinn's response to take control of the conversation. "Judy tells us your quite intelligent Quinn, all seminar classes at your old school, is that the highest level? It is here."

"Yeah, Advance Placement doesn't start until Junior year and only for history and English."

"It's the same at McKinley. I'm in mostly honors courses, except English I'm in seminar for that." Rachel chimed in.

"Cool. I just hope I can get into the seminar classes at McKinley, except math, I was in honors math at school, its not my forte."

"It isn't anyone's in this house, I think you and Rachel are probably the best at it." Judy laughed, "Oh gosh Lee, do you remember academic geometry with Mrs. Walters, I think her voice could put a raging rhino asleep."

Lee laughed, "No need for tranquilizers just have Mrs. Walters ramble about the Pythagorean Theorem and out he'd go in seconds."

"Oh my teacher, Mr. Vector is like that. So monotone, I don't even want to think about what his singing voice is like." Rachel chimed in. The conversation moved fluidly from then on with Judy and the Berry talking as normal and Quinn adding a comment here or there. Judy wished Quinn had participated some more in the diner conversation but she wouldn't push, she'd had expected Quinn to shut down completely at dinner so Quinn was already exceeding her expectations. When it was time to leave Judy confirmed with Rachel about the shopping trip and left with Quinn in tow.

"So that wasn't too bad." Judy commented as they entered the apartment.

"Rachel thinks I'm a bitch because I was a cheerleader." Quinn stared at Judy as if she was wait to see Judy's reaction to her statement. This felt like a test to Judy.

"She doesn't, its just she is having trouble with the head cheerleader, Marsha, at school right now."

"Doesn't give her the right to judge all cheerleaders."

"No it doesn't and I am sorry. I hope you will not hold that one statement against her. She really is a sweet girl and I think you two could be good friends."

"Whatever. Goodnight, Judy."

"Goodnight Quinn." Judy sighed as the door slammed shut and Judy had a feeling she'd just failed the test. What did Quinn want her to say, she'd just told the truth, gave her opinion. Shaking her head Judy went to bed herself, she'd figure it all out later.

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