Steppin Out On Love ch. 21
The Berry men are a lot scarier than you would think they are as I think that I'm might be more afraid of Jay than I am of Alex since the shorter Berry man reminds me a lot of Rachel as I assume that he's her biological father. Jay's a bit more intense than his partner but fiercely protective of his family as I assume that he knows about the bullying that I cause against his daughter so his initial dislike and mistrust of me was well justified. The first dinner that I shared with the Berry men was awkward and tense as I wasn't sure of how to react as I'm not used to people outwardly disliking me as I could easily charm me but it wasn't no effect on the surgeon. Nothing I said or did was wrong or had offend him in some ways before the tiny diva had enough telling him to drop the act, confusing me as he smirking while his husband had tried to cover his laughter behind his hand.
It was a prank to give me a hard time as they knew about me and what I have done as the petite singer had told me in the letters that she had sent them and had reservations about their only daughter dating her tormentors although she forgiven us. They were conflicted about how they feel about me but were willing to give me a chance to prove that I'm worthy of dating Rachel and I want that chance because I want them to like me. They told me that they understood what kind of upbringing that I had growing up and if I ever needed anything that I would have them in my corner which surprises but it made me happy because there's not a lot of people that I rely on. I've always been told that you get by in this world by your own hands, not accepting any kind of help from anyone and you weren't a Fabray if you did as it was frowned upon.
Little by little the Berry men open up to me although they implemented the 'Open Door Policy' because they didn't want us fooling around while they were in the house which wasn't my intention but I understand why it's in place. Although I don't think that I'm the one that they should be worried about as they don't know how much of a fuckin' tease that their daughter is at times and the little things that she does to get a reaction out of me. Once again I find myself sitting at the dinner table at the Berry household but this time, they know about Santana being a part of our relationship which she's being sweat since the tiny diva told us about it as most of her relationship gotten to this point. On the outside, my co-captain looks calm and collected but on the inside, she's sweating bullets as she's fighting every instinct that's telling her to run and hide because she knows how much this means to the petite singer.
We know that Rachel has the better relationship with her parent than the two of us although I don't like that her father tend to leave her alone to fix other people in other countries' problems and she'll say that it doesn't bother but I know that it does. I could see the loneliness and sadness in her eyes every time that her father were brought up although she'll put on a brave smile, pretending that nothing's wrong but I could see through as it's reason behind I would stay over with her, not wanting her alone. Jay and Alex sits on one side of the table while the Latina and I sit on either side of Rachel opposite of her father as the taller Berry man puts on his 'tough guy' act with his arms folded and unimpressed look on his face which is rather intimidate when directed at you. Now that I'm not the one under the scrutiny, it looks rather ridiculous as Santana tries not to fidget under his gaze as I'm told that she met the Berry men previously although they had thought she was me but they were kind to her for the most part.
The tiny diva takes the Latina's hand underneath the table as I place my hand on her knee for moral support as the shorter Berry man interrogates my co-captain asking a wide range of question. I never saw the mechanic's face turn pale so fast and I couldn't help myself, laughing at her reaction followed by both of the Berry men snicker at our poor girlfriend's face as she punches me in the arm for warning her. The dinner was less tense as conversation about school and life in general flow easily as the Latina loosen up considerably as she and Jay bond over their shared love for NCIS and Criminal Minds while Rachel couldn't stop smiling. After the dishes were washed and put me, we move to the living room to watch a movie although the tiny diva was disappointed that it wasn't a musicals which Santana teases her about although the both of them fall asleep halfway though.
Jay and Alex was generous enough offer the Latina and I the guest room before going upstairs to their room since they have work in the morning, leaving me trapped underneath two sleeping girls. I don't know how I manage to do it with the mechanic being such a cuddle monster, not wanting to be moved but I put off carrying both girls up the stairs in separate rooms before changing them into more comfortable clothes then crawling underneath covers. When I woke up the next morning, not only did I find myself being cuddled not only by Santana but also Rachel, trapping me to the bed which isn't a bad way to wake up as I wrap my arms around my girls before falling back asleep. The next time that I woke up, it was due to sound of someone's phone but I couldn't tell who it belonged, pulling the covers over my head to block out the sounds of it, wanting to go back to sleep but it was futile when someone pulls the cover from over my head.
I look up to see the tiny diva looking at me worried and concern look on her face as I notice that she's holding my phone, raising an questioning eyebrow as she hands me the device as I look to see that I have several missed calls from my father. My heart drop in that instant because I knew that I had forgotten about coming home last night and go with my family to church which mean he's furious with me as the last time that I missed attending church, it led to a beating. I shudder at the memory but I knew that I couldn't hide out here forever as I'll have to go home eventually and I really, really don't want to as I nearly jump out of my skin by something touching my shoulder to see that it was the Latina. She peeks over my shoulder, frowning slightly before taking my phone from me and before I could do anything, she starts pressing buttons then putting it to her ear as the petite singer wraps her arms around and I know that she's afraid for my safety.
"Hey Charlie, yeah it's Santana. Daddy Dearest's trippin and I don't trust him not to keep his hands to himself so I need you to meet me over there cause there's no way in hell that Q's gonna continue to stay there"
"Santana what are you-"
"Okay, okay got it. See you in fifteen" Santana said hanging up the phone.
"San, what did you just do?" Rachel asked raising an eyebrow.
"We're moving Quinn outta that house" Santana said texting someone. "And before you say anything, no you don't have a choice because I'm waiting until I get a call in the middle of the night saying that he killed you. You're either staying with your borther or with me but I won't stand by, letting you get smacked around"
"But who are you texting?"
"Backup because I don't think me and Charlie are going to be enough if Mr. Slap Happy goes postal" Santana said handing me my phone back.
"And you think that it's good idea for you to go over there? You think that I'll let you, knowing what he could do to you" I said frowning.
"I'd like to see him try anything and I'll go all Lima Heights on his ass. I'm not afraid of him" Santana scoffs.
"Well I am and I know the man better than you, Santana. I don't want to see you getting hurt because you're trying to protect me from him"
"You should know by now that there's nothing that I wouldn't do for you or Rachel. I protect my own and I wont him hurt you… not again. I… I can't lose you, Q and I'll be damned if I do" Santana said fighting back tears.
Santana has never been one to show vulnerability in front of others, let alone cry and she cares more than she lets go as I understand the reason why she's so adamant about protecting me. If the situation was reverse, I would be fighting equally as hard to make sure that she was safe and sound as I pull her into my arms, grateful that I have her in my life soon being hugged from behind.
"I think that the best course of action would be getting the police involved as I don't feel quite comfortable with you returning to that house nor I want you going there to pick a fight, San" Rachel said resting her against my shoulder.
"Which why we call the police to ensure that Russell keeps his hands to himself as we move Quinn's things from his residence and they'll be there in ten minutes"
We look up to see Jay standing in the doorway holding his phone to his ear and I couldn't be any more relieved because I dreamt of what it would be like to finally leave that godforsaken house and today is the day. It came a lot sooner than I had thought as I didn't know whether to cry or cheer for joy as we get dressed before heading over to my former childhood home to find Charlie and Darius was already there as well as the police. Russell was screaming all kinds of profanity at us. The cops were holding him back as he tries multiple times to get to me as I pack up everything of value to me in boxes as my brother and the Berry men load it up into the artist's truck.
"You ungrateful demon spawn, after everything I've done for you and this is how you repay me. I should've gotten rid of you when I had the chance. You're nothing and will never be nothing" Russell all but spat. "I don't have any children. You're all dead to me"
"You know what Russell, you've been dead to me for a long time and I don't need you because I have an actual family that loves me for me. You have a nice life" I said turning my back on the man that I once called father.
The further that I got away from that house of horror, the freer I feel and it feels amazing as Charlie drives back to his apartment as the two carry my things to my room to arrange however I like. I was surprised to find that the walls were painted an emerald green with black accents with two bookcase framing a desk as I easily fill them with pictures and literature and filling my closet with my clothes. By the time that I finish unpacking, I was hungry and ready to long nap when someone knocks on my door to see my two gorgeous girlfriends standing in the doorway with dual smiles on their face as Santana barges in without permission. Rachel snorts with a shake of her head before walking in a small box in hand, placing it my lap with an expectant look on her face for me to open it and I do, to find it's a picture frame with a photo of the three of us from the beach.
"I love it and I know just where to put it" I said placing it on my nightstand. "Now you'll be the first thing that I wake up to and the last thing that I see when I close my eyes"
"Or you could have the real thing filling your bed" Santana said wriggling her eyebrows suggestively.
"You're such a perv" I said nudging her shoulder.
"Well she's not wrong" Rachel smirks risqué.
Oh god, these girls are going to be the death of me but what a way to go.
~Nicole The Dragon Rider signing off
End of ch. 21