A/N: It's drama time, sort of.

Quite simple really, I wanted to delve into Quinn and Judy's relationship a little bit and well this happened.

Happy Valentines day! :-)

We have a no laptop/phone deal in our house for Valentines day and I'm at work all day so I'm posting this right on the stroke of midnight, posting chapter 14 on the 14th is satisfying.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything or mean any offence, I promise to put the toys back in the box when I'm finished.

Judy

Judy Fabray knew a lot about second chances. She'd given them and needed them, she'd needed a lot of them. Life for Judy hadn't been as she'd expected, college, marriage, kids, retire to Florida, that was meant to be her life. The first twenty one years of her life had been a breeze, easy and flowing, she hadn't needed to try for much, things just happened, why shouldn't the next sixty years be any different. In hindsight she couldn't believe she'd been so naïve, but then that's what second chances are for.

A lady never discloses her age but Judy knew she wasn't getting any younger, that didn't mean she couldn't enjoy life and make the most of it. She had come to realise that was the important thing, not letting her life go to waste anymore, not enjoying it. Despite living on her own back in Lima she was always busy, whether it was with work, social functions or just seeing friends and family. An empty weekend in her diary had prompted her to visit her daughter Quinn in New York. They contacted each other regularly, phone calls and emails, but didn't always have the opportunity to see each other in person with any frequency.

Quinn had met her at the hotel that morning for breakfast and from there Judy had insisted on going to the salon, before they had picked up Beth and were now currently making their way around the Bronx zoo.

"Girls can you please slow down."

"I did warn you mom."

"Isn't there a closer zoo and a smaller one? How much further are we going?"

"It's just around the corner and then you can sit down, I did say to wear flats. There is a closer and smaller zoo, but why do we come here Beth?" Quinn looked down to the little girl who was holding her hand as she walked beside her.

"Lions!"

"Exactly, Central Park zoo doesn't have lions and we love lions don't we lion Beth?"

The little girl nodded up at Quinn as they arrived at their bench and took a seat, watching as Judy struggled to catch up and finally collapsed beside them on the bench. The older woman took a few moments to catch her breath before she asked the little girl sat next to her.

"What's so special about lions then Beth?"

"Lions are awesome, I have lots of lion toys and stuff. They're like giant cats, their paws are like the size of my head and they're all fluffy and they like sleep all day, they live in Africa which is far away and it's really hot there they don't have snow like we have at Christmas, these ones are just visiting." The little girl turned to Quinn and pulled lightly on the girls sleeve.

"Quinn tell Judy and me about lions."

"Ok, well . . . did you know that lions use their tails to talk and tell each other things?"

"Don't they roar to talk?"

"Yes but they talk in lots of different ways, like people, sometimes people talk without opening their mouths."

"Like sometimes when I don't tidy away my stuff when mommy asks she does this kind of mad face."

"Yes that would be a good example sweetie."

"What do lions eat?"

"Meat, you know that, you've seen the keepers feeding the lions before."

"That was gross, is that all they eat though?"

"Pretty much, they drink water as well."

"Can you get vegan lions?"

"I don't think so."

"But you're a vegan."

"Yes."

"You don't eat meat."

"No, well, sometimes I do. What's the matter sweetie?" Quinn questioned at the little girls thoughtful expression.

"Nothing just thinking. Can I go closer, to see the lions better?"

"Of course."

"Judy come see the lions."

Beth got down from the bench and held out a hand expectantly for Judy. The older woman smiled at the child as she took the small hand and let Beth lead her closer to the enclosure, listening to the little girl talk animatedly about the lions and the names she had given each of them.

"Hello."

"Miss Fabray?"

"Yes."

"Lucy Fabray?"

"It's Quinn, who is this?"

"I'm calling from Saint Agnes hospital, we have a Judith Fabray here, she was admitted last night and we're trying to get hold of a next of kin. Am I right in assuming you are related ma'am?"

"I'm her daughter, what's going on?"

"Mrs Fabray came in last night on what seems to be an alcohol related incident. We've been trying to contact a Russell and Frances Fabray but there's been no answer, you're the first person we've been able to get in touch with. Are you in Ohio?"

"No Connecticut, I'm at college here, i-is she ok?"

"Her condition is stable but we need someone to come and take control of the paperwork. I'm sorry Quinn I understand it might be an inconvenience but would you be able to come, it has to be done in person."

Quinn hesitated for a moment, conflicted with the desire to turn her back on a woman who hadn't been there when she'd needed her but a woman who was also her mother and who in her own way tried. With a heavy sigh she knew she had little choice.

"I'm on my-, I'll be there. It probably won't be until this evening, it'll depend on whether I fly or drive."

"That's fine, let me give you the ward and room number, I'll tell the nurses on the station to expect you."

After Quinn had put the phone down there had been a flurry of activity as she arranged flights and packed some clothes and essentials. She had no idea what was going on or how long she'd need to be in Lima, thankfully the Fall semester reading week started in a few days so she didn't have to worry too much about college. As she entered the hospital, later that evening, she heard her name called, turning towards the sound she saw LeRoy Berry move steadily towards her.

"Rachel called you." There was a hint of accusation in Quinn's tone.

"She didn't want you to be alone. She wanted you to have the option of someone being here."

She gave him a curt nod, she'd spoken to Rachel on the phone before her flight, refusing her friends offer to come with her. LeRoy followed her as she made her way through the hospital corridors, until she reached the ward and nurses stations she'd been instructed to.

"You have my mother, Judy Fabray, I'm her daughter Quinn."

The nurse at the station looked through some paperwork before looking towards LeRoy.

"And he is?"

"With me."

Quinn quirked an eyebrow, daring the nurse to ask any further questions, they stared at each other for a moment.

"Ok, follow me please."

She led them to a room, Judy was laying there asleep or unconscious, Quinn didn't know which.

"The doctor will be along shortly, he'll explain everything."

LeRoy situated himself in the corner, standing out of the way so as to not intrude as Quinn approached her mother's bed. It had only been maybe two, three months since she'd last seen her mother, not that they'd spoken much in that time, she looked pale, older, with dark circles under her eyes and cracked lips. Quinn remembered the words 'alcohol related incident' from the earlier phone call and concluded that the cracked lips were probably down to them doing something like pumping Judy's stomach. Other than that there were no signs or indication as to why she was in the hospital.

"Miss Fabray?"

She turned to face the doctor.

"Yes,"

"I'm doctor Ratledge, is this your father?" He looked towards LeRoy.

"No, a friend."

"This is a delicate matter, perha-"

"Anything you have to say he can hear, he stays."

The doctor sighed.

"Your mother was brought in by paramedics, I don't know the exact details, but she had ingested a lot of alcohol. There are indications of long term alcohol abuse to her system. You don't seem surprised so I'm assuming that's the case?"

"Yes."

"How long?"

"I couldn't say with any accuracy the last time I saw my mother without a drink in her hand."

"Ok." The doctor scribbled on the clipboard in his hands.

"We went to pump her stomach but it became evident she had ingested other things."

Quinn looks up at this, her eyes meeting the doctors.

"It appears your mother consumed a number of pills. The paramedics went back to the house and found a bottle of prescription painkillers. Do you know if your mother suffers from any chronic pain?"

"I don't know."

"It's unclear at this stage whether your mother accidentally took more than the recommended dose or whether it was intentional. Either way we've pumped her stomach and we're just waiting to make sure everything is cleared from her system and that there are no adverse effects. There are a few courses of action we can take from here but the police may also want to speak with you and there's the issue of whether your mother has any medical insurance. Do you know? The details we have are out of date."

"I-I don't know."

"We've been trying to contact your father and a Frances Fabray, is that your sister? Would they be able to help at all?"

"I don't know."

"Miss Fabray we reall-"

"Doctor I think that's enough." LeRoy interrupted as he stepped forward.

"Why don't you leave a list of all the details you need with the nurses at the station and Quinn and I will do our best to help out once she's had a chance to process this. Maybe if you come back a little later we can also hear and discuss what the next steps are, ok?"

"I'll be back during rounds at 8 o'clock."

"Thank you doctor."

The doctor left and LeRoy retreated back to his corner to give the girl space, remembering Rachel's 'how to handle Quinn' briefing over the phone.

Silence blanketed the room, Quinn simply standing beside her mother's bed staring down at the woman who caused such fraught and opposing feelings within her, those feelings even more confused by the doctor's words. She didn't know where to begin to try and make sense of all this and in the end simply reached out, taking her mother's limp hand and prayed.

They stayed watching the lions for a while before the three of them headed to a little place for a late lunch. Judy had managed to find a book about lions in the zoo gift shop that Beth didn't have and as soon as she'd finished eating the little girl had immersed herself in it while the older blondes talked.

"Isn't Rachel joining us?"

"Yeah mom she's just running a little late. She's considering some movie roles at the moment and it's meeting after meeting discussing artistic direction and contracts and what not."

"She's not going to stay on Broadway?"

"She can't do Wicked forever, no matter how much she loves it. Chris suggested going to do a movie or two as a break, maybe another tv series, before she moves into another Broadway role."

"What do you think of that?"

"I'm inclined to agree, I just know she's going to find it difficult moving on from Wicked. Not in that she won't get offered parts, she's amazing, she's already been offered like six other lead roles since word got out she's leaving Wicked, I mean it's been such an important role for her, she really does love it and to leave it I know she'll just miss it so much."

Judy gave a sympathetic nod.

"If she does a movie or tv won't she have to go to LA again?"

"I know where you're going with this mother, yes potentially she would and if that was the case I would go with her."

"And you're ok with that?"

Quinn took a moment as she considered her mother's question. They'd provisionally discussed the idea, a movie or another tv series could mean leaving New York for anything from two to six months, maybe more depending on the role. Her book tour had just finished and her publisher was already starting to ask what ideas she had for her next. Going to LA could be a good change of scenery, provide some fresh inspiration. Not that she was short of inspiration in New York but somewhere new and different, somewhere she and Rachel could explore together, it was an exciting prospect.

As she glanced down to the little girl reading next to her she knew there were also downsides to this potential move. She saw Beth regularly, her and Shelby had worked out and established a monthly play date idea years ago. Quinn needed the structure, for her own sanity, and it allowed her to see Beth but maintain a certain distance, even after all this time she still couldn't quite process that Beth was her but not hers at the same time. Moving to LA for a while wouldn't change the arrangement, she'd simply fly back to New York once a month, hell Rachel would probably have New York withdrawal after a week and want to fly back regularly. It was the other stuff that Quinn would miss, since moving to New York she'd get last minute calls from Shelby asking her and Rachel to babysit if she couldn't find someone or to pick Beth up from School if there was a problem at work. Not being there in that way, missing out on that impromptu time, would be hard but LA would be a wonderful opportunity for both of them.

"I'm ok with it. If we go, some things will be hard but it's also exciting. Santana actually has a beach house out there which she's said we can live in for the time we're there, it's beautiful."

"That reminds me I ran into Mrs Puckerman the other day, did you hear that Jake boy has run off to the Bahamas, followed some girl apparently and performs in a beach bar now."

"Yes Puck mentioned something along those lines."

"You young people so impulsive, especially when it comes to love."

"It's not always a bad thing. Everyone deserves love and happiness and we all find it in our own ways."

"I know." Judy sighed and reached across the table to take her daughters hand.

"It's taken me a long time to learn that Quinn, I'm glad you learnt it sooner."

"Mom-"

"No. It's not been easy for either of us, I've not found it or always made it easy, but I'm glad we've never given up on each other. We've never stopped trying no matter how . . . difficult, I know it's not always seemed like it but I've only ever wanted you to be happy Quinn."

"Mom I need to talk to you about something."

"Ok, dear."

"Mom it's . . . can you come and sit down a minute."

"Is something wrong, what's happened?"

Judy cleaned her hands on the apron she wore, absentmindedly turning the heat down on the cooker and pans as she moved to sit across from her daughter at the dining table. Quinn was home for Thanksgiving, it was going to be a big family affair this year with nearly all of Judy's family visiting for the day. Recently Judy had slowly been reconnecting with her family and Quinn had enjoyed hearing her mother talk enthusiastically about aunts, uncles and cousins she had either never met or hadn't seen for a long time.

Quinn was nervous as she looked across at her mother. She'd opted to do this alone, despite Rachel's persistent offers. The Fabray womens relationship had always been rocky, but one day they both seemed to realise that it was just the two of them now and slowly but surely they started working together to form some sort of mother-daughter relationship. Despite that, Quinn couldn't help the need to protect Rachel if this all went wrong and she couldn't stop the apprehensive feeling she felt at what her mother's reaction would be. They didn't exactly have the best track record when it came to Quinn sharing big news with Judy.

Quinn knocked on the Berrys front door, thankful that it was answered by Rachel.

"Quinn?"

"Hi, erm . . ."

"Where's your stuff?"

Quinn looked behind her towards her car which was parked on the street outside the Berrys house.

"Come on. Let's get it inside."

Quinn registered Rachel stepping out onto the porch and taking her hand, she vaguely remembered handing over her car keys and Rachel asking her about which bags she needed before being led back towards the house. She'd been shown the guestroom and the bags had been put in there, she'd sat on the bed while Rachel went back downstairs to tell her dads that Quinn would be staying for the next few days.

Quinn had made it through her first year of college, getting a summer internship with a photography studio in New York. She'd moved in with Rachel and Kurt for that time but there had been a week gap between the end of her internship and the start of her second year. Deciding to go home to Lima for that week she had also made the big decision to come out to her mother. Rachel had returned home the week prior and Kurt was due back in Lima tomorrow, both had offered guestrooms if things didn't go well.

Quinn heard the bedroom door click closed as Rachel returned and sat down next to her on the bed.

"So it didn't go well."

"Oh no it went swimmingly Rachel but I just thought 'hey why sleep in my own bed when I can intrude on my friends family get-together and occupy their guestroom for a week."

Rachel knew now that Quinn generally lashed out when she felt vulnerable or uncertain of her feelings. Rachel just stayed silent and watched Quinn take a few deep breaths.

"I'm sorry. It . . . it all seemed to be going ok and then . . ."

"She kicked you out?"

"No, surprisingly she didn't, I just . . . I couldn't be there anymore."

Quinn looked at Rachel's confused expression and gave a heavy sigh.

"I-I told her and she just didn't say anything, we were just sat in silence and then she just said 'ok', stood up and went to make dinner . . . it seemed alright I mean it was awkward but no yelling or anything and then I was watching TV after dinner and she came and started asking me all these questions."

"Isn't that a good thing?"

"She'd been drinking, and they weren't very nice questions."

"Oh."

"Yeah, as soon as she left me alone to get a refill, or whatever, I just left."

Quinn took another deep breath, her hands either side of her gripped the blanket on top of the bed. She squeezed her eyes closed at the memory of her mothers words, drawing another deep breath and trying to release the tension in her shoulders, she felt Rachel place a hand over one of hers.

"I don't know what to do Rach . . . I just . . . what do I do, do I go back tomorrow, act like this never happened, does she just need time . . . does she hate me, I don't . . . I don't know what to do."

"I can't really answer that Quinn, but I'm here and you can stay as long as you need."

Rachel gave the girls hand a squeeze as she saw tears being to run down Quinn's cheeks and fall onto the blondes lap. She heard a muted sob and saw the girl shake slightly before Quinn turned and buried her head into Rachel's shoulder. Rachel wrapped her arms around the crying girl, placing a kiss to the top of her head before whispering comforting words into Quinn's ear as she held her.

"Quinn, what is it? Is everything ok with school?"

"Yeah, yeah it's fine mom." Quinn responded, the question bringing her back to the moment, as she gave a dismissive wave of her hand. She took a deep breath, she just needed to get this over with, be forthright and it would all be over with in no time.

"So, erm . . . you know how you said you didn't want to know about my dating people unless it was serious, well I am, dating someone that is, and it's serious and I want you to meet them but you kind of already know them and I'm worried this is going to be really awkward because I'd like them t-"

"Oh no Quinn, not Jamie again." Judy stood and began to make her way back behind the kitchen counter as she spoke.

"I don't even know how you thought that was a serious relationship in the first instance, you were clearly not right for each other, the girl has no discretion-"

"Mom-"

"And I don't care what the traditional way to make meatloaf is-"

"Mom-"

"If she thinks she can come back here and tell me how to baste a Thanksgiving turkey you've got another thing coming young la-"

"Mom!"

Judy stopped her ramblings and looked up at her daughter.

"Mom please can you just come and sit back down, it's not Jamie." Quinn could see the confusion on her mothers face as she made her way back to the dining table and the chair she'd been sat in.

"Then if I already know them, who is it? The only other person I remember meeting is . . . Fi- . . . you're dating Finn Hudson!"

"What?! No! Jesus Christ, Finn Hudson? Really mom I'm not stupid and also still very much gay thank you very mu- ow!" Quinn rubbed her arm where Judy had slapped across her upper arm.

"Lucy Quinn Fabray we do not take the Lords name in vain in this household. Now how about you stop bumbling around the subject and just tell me what's going on."

"I would if you'd let me get a word in." Quinn mumbled, receiving an arched eyebrow look from Judy, as she took another deep breath.

"It's Rachel. I'm dating Rachel, I-I've been dating Rachel it's serious we're like more than dating, we're together, I love her." She babbled out and was back to feeling apprehensive and nervous, the growing silence becoming unbearable.

"I'd really like to invite her and her dads to Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow . . . it's not like they're strangers, you know them."

"Yes I remember LeRoy. How long have they known?"

"That's not . . . you know you and I, we need boundaries mom, that's how we work, so don't start comparing and being hurt by who knew what first. I'm telling you now, I'm being honest about what is going on in my life, about wanting to share with you that I have this amazing person in it who I love and who loves me back." Quinn sees something flicker across her mothers face but she can't quite pin down what it is.

"Rachel's a lovely girl, I know she's been there for you a lot in the last few years, I think . . . how about you invite her round for dinner tonight, I can get to know her a little better and we'll take it from there. She's vegan right?" Judy asks the last bit as she stands and makes her way back towards the kitchen.

"Yeah."

Quinn gets up and follows her mother, once she's stood beside her she pulls the other woman into a hug.

"Thanks mom."

Judy relaxes into the hug, pulling her daughter more tightly towards her.

"Thank you."

"Rachel!" Judy waved to catch the brunette's attention, standing as Rachel approached so that she could hug the girl.

"I'm glad you could finally join us, Quinn said you had a lot of meetings."

"Yes, it's been a frantic morning but we made good progress." Rachel moved to sit down next to Beth, so the little girl was between her and Quinn. As she sat Beth looked up from the book she'd been engrossed in, smiling widely at the brunette as they hugged.

"Hi Beth. What have you been up to this morning?"

"Hi Rach. We went to the zoo and Judy bought me a new book, it's all about lions."

"You'll be smarter than Quinn if you keep reading at this rate."

The little girl smiled at the comment before returning her attention to her book. Rachel's attention turned to Quinn, as she leaned around the girl between them, draping her arm across the back of their seats until she could brush her hand over her girlfriends shoulder as she gave her a chaste kiss.

"Hey you."

"Hi sweetheart."

Rachel turned her attention back to the woman across the table.

"Judy, I have to say you're looking very well and I love what you've had done with your hair."

"Thank you. You know no matter how hard I try I can't them to do it this well back home, but then Lima is a long way from New York . . . speaking of which you know where is further, LA."

"Ah, I see you two have been talking." Rachel looked pointedly at Quinn.

"Yes, so tell me, any chance you'll be working with someone nice and hunky, Russell Crowe perhaps?"

"Ew mom he looks so old now."

"No news yet, it's all still very early in the process."

"Keep me posted, I'd settle for Ed Harris. It is a shame you couldn't join us this morning you could have helped me try and convince Quinn to do something more interesting with that untamed mop of hair."

"Was the pink hair back in High School not adventurous enough for you mom? It's not worth it, particularly because we were picking this bundle of trouble up and she just loves messing up my hair, don't you." Quinn reached out tickling Beth and distracting her from her book.

"But it looked so pretty last summer when you grew it long again. It's so much more becoming than that shaggy mess."

Quinn was simply ignoring her mother at this point, caught up in a game with Beth who would move some of Quinn's short hair over her face making the taller girl blow puffs of air to move it out her eyes and make Beth giggle before the little girl would pull the hair back over Quinn's face and start their game again.

"I have to say I like it this length." Rachel commented as she raised her hand from where she had left it draped across the back of the seats to run her fingers through the soft chin length blonde strands. Beth giggled as Rachel joined in their game, pulling a handful of Quinn's hair forward over the girls face.

Judy sighed, as she sipped her water, watching and taking in the scene in front of her. She couldn't help but smile, here she was Judy Fabray, divorced, single, a recovering alcoholic, estranged from her eldest daughter and now sat with her gay daughter and her girlfriend and her daughter's child who she'd had out of wedlock and given up for adoption.

Quinn had turned into everything she had been raised and thought was wrong but once she'd taken a step back, taken a moment to learn about her daughter, and looked, actually looked at Quinn's life she'd seen how wrong she was. She saw the support from the friends she'd surrounded herself with, the passion she felt in her career, the love she had for Beth and the perfect match she had found in Rachel.

Watching her daughter relaxed and laughing, she could see Quinn had found love and happiness and it filled Judy with a warmth, it had taken more than a second chance for the two of them to work out their differences and for her to see it, but Quinn was her daughter, she was perfect.

"When are you going to give me more grandkids?"

"Mom!" Quinn exclaimed.

"I'd only been married to your father for a year when I got pregnant with Frannie."

"We're not even married yet."

"Yet. So if you're not giving me more grandkids soon, am I going to get a wedding then?"

"Don't push."

"Judy, I'm sure all those things will come in time, when we're both ready, and I will make sure you and my dads are the first to know."

"I'm sure LeRoy and Hiram are just as eager as I am, don't keep us waiting too long."

A/N2: Reviews and comments, I shamelessly admit I am positively addicted to them but I'm also really interested to hear peoples thoughts.

I'll be honest I was super nervous with this chapter because I think it's something everyone has a view and opinion on as to how this would pan out and this is simply mine in the construct of this little 'verse'. Also I wrote sections of it but I really wanted it to come together as a strong and clear one-shot, I didn't want to leave things too unresolved. So while we had something a bit more serious and a hint of drama, I seriously couldn't resist it being happy and a bit cheesy towards the end of this chapter, but such is the joy of fanfiction. It's not the last bit of drama we'll see though . . .

't', because I can't reply to anon/guest reviews, with the conversations I don't plan to continue those specific ones but I do have other conversations and similar things which I'm thinking of grouping together in the future. I can't resist skipping around with the time, it's too much fun. Also Santana will inevitable shoulder her way in again soon.

I've caught up with myself again, kind of, so I'm aiming to post another chapter same day, same place next week but I have no idea what it's going to be yet.