Yea, I know it's been a while. Sorry bout that. Just a case of writers block, non internet service and most importantly…a very huge case of laziness. But I'm back now. Yay! Read and Enjoy :)
The mistakes are not mine…they belong to my evil twin. ;-P
Chapter 36
An hour and 45 minutes later, Quinn was sitting on the park bench, waiting for her father. Sure she was 15 minutes early, sue her, it's been over two years since she's last seen the man, she was nervous as fuck.
As Quinn waited for her father, a bunch of thoughts and questions ran through her head. The big question on her mind was why. Why did he leave in the first place? Why was he back all of sudden? And where had he been this whole time? Why hasn't he mentioned it in any of this his emails? So many questions and yet no answers. Hopefully with her father's visit, she'll get those answers.
Quinn was still thinking and nervously waiting when she heard a deep male voice coming from behind her.
"Quinn"
Everything stopped around Quinn at the sound of the familiar voice. Quinn slowly turns around. Standing a few feet away from her was a tall older blonde man in a pair of khaki pants, a green and white striped polo shirt and a pair of old green and white nikes.
"Dad" Quinn whimpers.
"Hey. How you been, kiddo?" Russell Fabray said
"Daddy" Quinn still couldn't believe that he was actually standing in front of her.
"Yea, it's me" He said with a tearful smile. He stretches his arms to hug Quinn.
Quinn was frozen. At first she didn't know if what she was seeing was real or not, so she slowly, but tentatively approached him. She still couldn't believe that he was really here. She didn't know what do, but once she felt his arms wrap around her, she knew it was real and that he was really there. She buried her face in his chest, cling to his shirt and finally let the tears fall. He was back. Her father was back. She finally had him back, and she was never letting him go. Ever again.
The two stood there for a while, getting reacquainted with the feeling of being in each others arms. After what seemed like hours but was mere minutes, the two separated. Russell smiled down at Quinn and uses his thumb to wipe away the tears from her face.
"Hi" Russell says. Quinn lets out a tearful chuckle.
"Hi" she said back.
"My god. Look at you. You've grown so much. And still as beautiful as ever. God, I've missed you so much." Russell pulls Quinn in for another hug.
"I miss you too, dad." Quinn whispers into her father's shoulder.
Russell lets out a happy sigh before letting Quinn out of the embrace. He looks around and notices something.
"Where's your sister?"
"Oh uh she didn't come." When she saw the hurt look on her father's face she quickly added. "She thought it would be best if just you and I talked. But she can't wait to see you when we get back home." Quinn says with a smile.
"Oh, good. That's…that's good. I'm really glad you came." Russell says. "So how's it been, kiddo?"
"It's um…it's been good I guess…But really dad. I'm sorry I'm really happy you're here, but what's all this about?"
"Quinn…"
"No dad, I don't see or-or hear from you, besides emails, for over two years, then you just suddenly out of nowhere want to meet up and-and talk." A pause. "Are you sick or something? You're not dying are you?"
"What? No. No Quinn I am in perfect health. Wow, since when did you get so dramatic." He jokes
"Then why are you here?" Quinn crosses her arms over her chest.
"Is it so hard to believe that I wanted just to come and see my daughters?" Russell says
"Well considering that it's been two years since you've seen us, yea. It's a little sketchy."
Russell sighs "Quinn, we emailed all the time…"
"Exactly. Email. Not call or see each other. And we didn't even do that a lot. It would be another what two…three months till you emailed me back."
"Quinn I know…"
"And-and we don't even get to talk to you on Christmas."
"Quinn I know and I'm sorry…"
"All I want to know is why." A pause. "Why did you just leave like that? How could you just leave me like that?"
"Quinn…"
"Do you have any idea how I felt? What it wasn't enough that I just had my mom taken from me, I had to have you taken too?" Quinn said through tears.
"Quinn…"
"God, I just…Grrahh!" Quinn growls as she harshly wipes the tears from her eyes. She was so angry and frustrated and hurt. She didn't know what to do.
"Quinn…I'm…I'm so sorry." Russell says sadly as he tries to pull Quinn to him, but she backs away from him.
"All I want to know is why." Quinn says "WHY?" she says a little louder.
Russell looks at his daughter before taking a deep breath.
After much pleading, resisting, and tears (Garcia), the women finally made their way to the mall. The ride over, JJ tried to get to know Rachel a little bit more, asking her some questions that she couldn't really ask in front of her sister. Rachel answered as honestly, and of course shyly, as she could.
Currently the women were in JC Penny's. JJ and Garcia (mostly Garcia) were helping Rachel pick out clothes that would fit her comfortably during her pregnancy. Rachel was a little upset that there weren't much argyle maternal clothing, but with JJ and Garcia's help, she found a some that satisfied her taste.
"Hey Rach, you okay in there?" JJ asks as Rachel is trying on the clothes.
"Yea,…yea…I'm fine. Just trying to get this on." Rachel said.
"Do you need any help?" JJ asks.
"No…no…it's okay. I got it."
"Okay. Are you sure?"
"Yea"
"Alright, well we're just out here if you need any help." JJ said
"Okay" And with that, JJ headed back over to Garcia and Henry. When JJ got closer, Henry reaches out for his mother to take him.
"Hey there big boy. You been a good boy for Auntie Penelope?" JJ asks her son. Henry gives a small nod with his thumb in his mouth, before laying his head on JJ's shoulders.
"Hey, Jayje?" Garcia called.
"Yea" JJ turns her attention from her son to Garcia
"I don't know, but does Quinn and Rachel ever…remind you of somebody?"
"Um…I don't know. Who?"
Garcia looked at JJ like it was obvious, but JJ was still not getting it.
"You and Emily." Garcia said cheerfully
"What?" JJ said in both shock and confusion.
"Well you have to admit, our little song bird has a striking resemblance to our very own brunette super agent." Garcia said
"Who?"
Garcia rolls her eyes. "Rachel looks like Emily"
"What? No way."
Garcia nods her head "Yep. Sure does."
JJ thought about it. Rachel did look a little like Emily.
"Okay, well yeah, I guess. But what that has anything to do with it?" JJ said
"Well think about it. We have our beautiful smart fierce blonde and our very gorgeous and talented brunette, brought together by an unexpected situation. Fighting off the very attraction that brought them together." Garcia reasons.
"You do know that that sounds nothing like me and Em, right?" JJ says
"Well maybe not, but it's close." JJ didn't look convinced. "Oh come on, I know you saw what I saw this morning. There is something going on there, and I'm going to do something about it." Garcia said already planning her attack as matchmaker.
"No Garcia" JJ said sternly
"What?" Garcia said innocent
"I know that face."
"What face?" Garcia tried to pull other faces, but her mischievous cupid look kept coming up.
"That mischievous cupid look you get when you want to play matchmaker."
"But…"
"If Rachel and Quinn want to get together, they will. If they're as much like Em and I as you said then they will figure it out. On their own time. So no meddling." JJ said final
"Oh you're no fun." Garcia pouts.
"Guys" a voice cuts off their bickering. JJ and Garcia turn to the dressing room and see Rachel shyly standing wearing a blue dress with a red ribbon around the waist with a red cardigan.
"Aww, Rach, you look so adorable." Garcia gushes
"Really?" Rachel says shyly
"Yea, Quinn is going to love it." Garcia says. JJ nudges her in the side.
"What?" Rachel said
"N-nothing. You really nice Rachel. Why don't you go finish up and we'll go get something to eat." JJ said quickly.
"Oh okay" Rachel said a little confused as she headed back to the dressing room.
Both JJ and Garcia let out a breath neither knew were holding.
"That was close." Garcia said. JJ glares at Garcia. "What? I may not do anything, but I stand by what I said. Those two would be perfect for each other."
JJ just rolls her eyes and shakes her head. She couldn't disagree with Garcia. Her sister and Rachel did seem to have something. It could just be because of the baby, but something in her told her opposite. She would just have to wait, and hope that they would figure it out in their own time.
After trying on a few more outfits, the three women left JC Penny's and headed for the food court.
"Okay, so we have dresses, jeans, shirts, skirts, sweaters and soft comfy shoes. What else do we need?" Garcia lists
"Garcia, I think we have enough." JJ said
"Nonsense. We women never have enough of anything." Garcia said. JJ and Rachel chuckled at the crazy blonde. The finally got to the food court. They got their food and headed for the tables and took a seat.
"So Rachel, have you thought about the baby shower?" Garcia asked suddenly.
"What?" Rachel nearly choked on her food.
"Garcia" JJ said
Garcia ignored her. "The baby shower? You know the celebration of the pending or resent birth of a child by presenting gifts to the parent, ergo you and Quinn, for the baby. That baby shower." Garcia said.
"Whoa" JJ said
"Um w-well I-I…" Rachel stutters.
"Uh Garcia…remember that thing we talked about?" JJ say trying to save Rachel from the further embarrassment.
"What thing?" Garcia asked confused.
"The thing." JJ said pointing to Rachel.
"Oh you mean the thing about Rachel not knowing if she wants to keep the baby or not, and her and Quinn being to stubborn and scared to talk about something that they both clearly want." Garcia said cheerfully. Rachel turned her head so fast she was sure she would have a sore neck later. JJ face palms. So much for no further embarrassment.
"Ah not necessarily all of that but yes, that."
"Oh please she can still have the shower, even if she hasn't made up that pretty little head of hers. And I'm pretty sure with a little colorful pep talk from yours truly, Quinn will come to her senses too. Now you two stay here and chitty chat amongst yourselves, and I'll go looking for some decorations. I would take you guys with me, but I'm afraid you'll ruin my style." Garcia said before getting up from her seat.
"Ms. Garcia…" Rachel calls
"Uh uh what did we say about this Ms. Garcia business?" Garcia said sternly.
"Uh don't do it?"
"Exactly. Ms. Garcia is my mother and it makes me feel old. And I for one am not old. See this…" Garcia holds out some of her hair. "…see no gray, so me no old. Now stop stalling, I have work to do." with that Garcia left the table.
Rachel looked as if she was about to protest, but JJ cut her off.
"It's no use, Rach. Once Garcia has her mind set on planning something, there is no changing it." JJ says.
"She sounds a lot like my friend Kurt." Rachel chuckles.
"Oh god, if he is anything like Garcia, let's hope they never meet, cause that could be match made in planning hell." JJ jokes.
"Yea. I actually think Kurt's already planning the baby's first birthday." Rachel laughs
"Oh god" JJ also laughs.
There is silence for a moment. While waiting for their bubbly blond counter part to return, Rachel starts thinking back to what Garcia said. To say she was shocked at what she heard was an understatement. Did Quinn really want what she did? Did Quinn really want to keep the baby? There was no way someone as cool and popular as Quinn would want to be tied to a loser like Rachel with a kid. A kid that only happened because of some drunken accident. Right? Right?
"Hey Rach?" JJ called snapping Rachel out of her thoughts.
"Huh?"
"You okay? You had this weird look on her your face." JJ said
"Oh yea…yea I'm okay." Rachel answered.
There was a silence.
"So Rachel…how are you feeling?" JJ asks
"Uh oh…um…fine I guess. I've been fine. Morning sickness is getting less and less a little everyday, so that's good. The baby is still very healthy, which is also good. So everything is good. Mood swings are bit confusing, but that's okay. My breast and feet are starting to hurt a little though. And then there's…" Rachel trailed off blushing.
"What?"
"Well, I've-I've been having certain…urges…" Rachel says blushing furiously.
"Urges?"
"Yea, like…sexual…" Rachel says looking as red as an apple.
"Oh…Oh…OH!…You mean…you're horny." JJ says
Rachel blushes even hard, if that's even possible, and nods. She was to embarrassed to talk.
"Hey, it's nothing to be embarrassed about, It happens. When I was pregnant with Henry, I was horny twenty four seven. Thank God for Emily, though." JJ said getting lost in her thoughts.
"Ah-hem" Rachel clears her throat, still blushing.
"Oh…sorry" JJ blushes herself. "All I mean is…hormones, gotta love em."
"Yea, but what do I do?"
"Um well there's only one thing I can think of…" Rachel waited for JJ's answer. "Got any batteries?"
"What?!" Rachel shrieks.
"Either that or ask Quinn for a little pleasure time."
"Um I'd rather not do that." Rachel said blushing again.
"Okay, so double A batteries, got any?" JJ said casually.
"Uh…how about we just forget about this conversation ever happened. Like ever." Rachel says.
"Okay, but I'm sure we can fine some batteries around…" JJ teases.
"JJ!"
"Okay, okay. Sorry." JJ laughs
There was silence again.
"So how are you Rachel? Really?" JJ asked serious
"I thought…"
"No I don't mean with the pregnancy…I mean with other things." JJ said gesturing to her pregnant belly.
"Oh, um…well…I don't know. Still confused I guess."
"Is it about what Garcia said?" JJ just had to ask. She's been wondering how the girl felt about what was said.
"Um no…not really, although that was shocking." A pause "Do you really think Quinn wants that?" Rachel asked
"Well have you talked to her yet?"
"No" Rachel shakes her head.
"Rachel, you guys really need to talk about this. To each other." JJ says
"I-I know. I know we should. I'm just…" Rachel trails off.
"Just what?"
"Scared" Rachel said. JJ looks confused.
"Of what?" Rachel doesn't answer, she just looks at her shoes. "Oh, it's not that whole having Quinn choose her popularity and reputation over raising a child thing again is it?" Once again Rachel said nothing. "You know Rach, you should really give Quinn a little bit more credit."
"But what if she does? What if she doesn't want to keep him? What if she'd rather have a life and reputation than to raise a child with a loser like me?" Rachel said with tears threatening to fall.
"Okay first off, you're not a loser Rachel. Stop calling yourself that. And second, you'll never know unless you talk to her. Look Rachel, I understand that all of this is confusing for you, but you have to remember that you are not alone in this. You have Quinn. If you really want to know what's going on with her, you should discuss it with her. That of course requires you to talk to her. How would you know what she thinks if you guys don't talk?" JJ says. Rachel looks up to JJ. "Beside you never know. Her answer could surprise you." JJ smiles.
Rachel smiles back, and was about to say something, but was interrupted by the squeal of the blonde perky technical analyst.
"You aren't going to believe what I found." Garcia says. Just as JJ was about to say something, Garcia cuts her off. "Never mind, you suck at this. Look…" Garcia held up streamers. "…they're little race car streamers. Aren't they just drop dead adorable, for the baby shower." Garcia said excited.
"Pen…" JJ sighs
"JJ, don't fight me on this. There is no point and you will lose."
JJ sighed in defeat and Rachel chuckles.
"Now come on, so I can show you where got these from. Uww and they got these little basketball shaped whistles that are just so cute. They have "Quinn's kid" written all over them." Garcia eagerly grabbed both their arms and pulled them out of their seats and dragged them with her.
"Garcia, please tell me you actually paid for those before you walked out of the store." JJ said
"Of course I did, Jay. What do you think I am some kind of crazy person?" Garcia says. JJ looked like she was about to respond, but Garcia stopped her. "Don't answer that. And that was one time." Garcia pouts. Both JJ and Rachel laughs.
"Okay, come on Pen, show us where you got the streamers from." JJ said. Garcia perks up and guides them to the store.
As they walked, they noticed that in the middle of the mall, a crowd of people were gathered and soft music was playing.
"I wonder what's going on here." JJ said. Garcia and Rachel shrugged.
Suddenly a voice came through the giant speakers.
"Hello beautiful people of Lima, Ohio." the voice said and everyone cheered. "I am Jesse St. James. Yes, the St. James, and welcome to Lima City Mall's first annual Valentine's Day concert!" Once again everyone cheered.
"Valentine's Day? But isn't that like 2 weeks away?" Garcia asks
"Well I guess some people like to be a little…prepared?"
Jesse comes back on the speaker.
"Now behind me is the very talented, very dynamic, Carmel High's own world renowned 4 time National Show Choir Champion, Vocal Adrenalin! Give it up!" Jesse cheers
"Oh my god" Rachel says
"What?" JJ and Garcia ask at the same time.
"Th-that's Vocal Adrenalin." Rachel says. JJ and Garcia still don't see the big deal. "They're the four time national choir champs." A pause. "They're seriously one of, if not the only, biggest competition the New Directions has." Rachel explains.
"The who?" Garcia asks
"It's the glee club I'm in."
"Ooohhh" Garcia and JJ said at the same time. "Quinn did mention something about that." JJ says.
"Yea, and what makes it worse is their coach is non other than Shelby Corcoran."
"Who?"
"She's a former Broadway star. No one really knows much about her. I just do my research." Rachel says proudly. JJ and Garcia nod their heads before turning their attention back to the stage, where Jesse was still speaking.
"…and we hope you have a wonderful day filled with love. Now without ado, please welcome the woman that put all of this together, the choir director of Vocal Adrenaline, Miss Shelby Corcoran!"
Everyone cheers as a beautiful older brunette makes her way to the stage.
"Hello everybody!" Shelby says into the mic.
"Whoa" JJ said
"She's…" it was Garcia this time.
"Beautiful" Rachel finishes.
"Well I was going to say hot, but that works too." Garcia says
"Thank you Jesse, for that wonderful introduction." Shelby chuckles. Jesse winks back at her.
"Gross" JJ and Garcia said. Rachel just looked star struck.
"And welcome everyone. We have a great day of music, singing and fun planned out. But first I thought I'd start this with a little song of my own. This song is for all the lovers in the house."
People cheered as the sound of a piano played throughout the mall.
"Celine, just what I would have done for this kind of event." Rachel says.
The whispers in the morning
Of lovers sleepers tight
Are rolling like thunder now
As I look in your eyes
I hold on to your body
And feel each move you make
Your voice is warm and tender
A love that I could not forsake
"Wow, she's good." Garcia said
"Really good." JJ said
Rachel said nothing. She was staring mesmerized and awestruck at the woman on stage. It was strange, but she felt she's heard that voice somewhere before, she just couldn't place it.
Cause I'm your lady
And you are my man
Whenever you reach for me
I'll do all that I can
"Hey, Jayje?" Garcia said
"Yeah"
"Does she…I don't know remind you of someone?" Garcia.
"Ah Garcia…again with the celeb look alike." JJ said slightly annoyed
"No I'm serious this time. Doesn't she like, remind of someone. I mean she just looks really familiar. Maybe an older version, but still familiar." Garcia said.
Unconsciously, Garcia's eyes start to drift. JJ follows Garcia's gaze and they both land of Rachel, who didn't even seem to notice them looking at her.
Lost is how I'm feeling lying in your arms
When the world outside too
Much to take
That all ends when I'm with you
Rachel thought and thought and thought, she just couldn't figure out where she's heard that voice from.
Then it hits her. When she was younger, she sometimes had a hard time sleeping. Her dads would playher a cassette tape to help her sleep. The beautiful voice of a woman would come on and softly sing her to sleep. When Rachel was about 10 years old, she finally asked her fathers who the lady on the tape was. Her fathers told her that it was her birth mother. She had made it for her when she was a baby. Since then Rachel would listen to the tape all the time, day or night, whether she could sleep or not. She thought that it would bring her closer to her mother, even though she had never met her. Until today.
Event though there may be times
It seems I'm far away
Never wonder where I am
Cause I'm always by your side
Stunned, Rachel begins to make her way to the stage.
JJ and Garcia notice her walking away.
"Uh Rach, you okay?" Garcia asks, but receives no response. Rachel just continues to walk.
"Whoa Rach, what are you doing? Wait where are you going?" JJ said.
"Get back here." Garcia said. When Rachel still showed no sign of stopping, they followed after her.
Cause I'm your lady
And you are my man
Whenever you reach for me
I'll do all that I can
We're heading for something
Somewhere I've never been
Sometimes I am frightened
But I'm ready to learn
Of the power of love
Rachel made her way to the stage. She didn't know why, but something in her wouldn't let her stop. She just had to know. She had to know the truth about her long lost mother. Like why wasn't her mother in her life. Why had she not heard from her until now. Nothing was going to stop her, not even the few people she was bumping into.
The sound of your heart beating
Made if clear
Suddenly the feeling that I cant go on
Is light years away
Cause I'm your lady
And you are my man
Whenever you reach for me
I'll do that I can
Rachel has blindly guided her way through the crowd and is not standing at the entrance to the stage.
We're heading for something
Somewhere I've never been
Sometimes I am frightened
But I'm ready to learn
Of the power of love
Power of love
She didn't realize the song was over until the crowd starts cheering, and Shelby makes her way off of the stage.
As Shelby made her way off the stage, she hears someone call her name.
"M-Ms. Corcoran." she said in a shaky voice
Shelby turned to a the girl and was shocked at what she saw. A girl, in her teenage years, who looked a striking image of herself. She couldn't believe it.
"M-my name is Rachel. Rachel Berry and…I think I'm your daughter." Rachel says
Shock was written all over Shelby's face. She just stared at the young girl.
"Whoa" JJ and Garcia said as they caught up to her in time to hear what she said.
Neither woman knew what to say. They just stared.
End of Chapter 36
Song: "Power of Love" Celine Dion
Cliff hanger. Dun dun dun. What will happen with Quinn and her dad or Rachel and Shelby? Stay tuned and find out. :)