Chapter 38.

It has been difficult to write this despite the bet I had with Stargirl888, and I'm sorry for letting her down... The riots in London have been harsh. My sister is in the met police and has been dealing with the riots. Which as you can imagine is very stressful. Add the fact I've been unwell. My decision to stop taking my heart medication may have just been the wrong one... But hey what can you do. So sorry it's so short, but add messed up family + messed up health+ dissertation = little time to write fan fiction. I promise the next chapter will be a lot longer! I want to get back to at least 3000 words a chapter. Anyway hope you enjoy and please review, I know it's somewhat pathetic but they do lighten up my day.

Quinn awoke surprisingly disorientated she attempted to move but realised she was in someone's lap. The thought made her instantly uncomfortable. She was not fond of any coddling. Quinn felt like a small child in mummy's lap. She attempted to pull away, only for the person gripping her to pull her in tighter. She sighed exasperatedly. She heard the door open, Quinn twisted her head around, as far as she could considering the vice grip Santana had on her.

"You comfortable there Q?"

"Please rescue me?"

Brittany giggled quietly, "just rub the back of her arm, she'll release her grip."

Quinn followed her instructions, and Santana did release her grip enough to slip out of her arms. She stood up gingerly and adjusted her crumpled clothes. "Come have a coffee with me,"

Quinn followed the taller blonde into the kitchen. Brittany poured the two drinks out, and allowed Quinn to stay silent for a bit.

"Putting it off now, won't mean we don't have to talk about it," Brittany said glancing over at Quinn who had her buried her nose into to the coffee.

"And you can't drown yourself in a mug of coffee," joked Brittany trying to lighten the situation.

"Tell me what you are feeling Quinn," pleaded Brittany.

Quinn looked up, "you both love Rachel more than me. I'm the spare part, if I ever upset Rachel; I would be homeless before I could count to three." Quinn said it with more conviction than she felt.

"You honestly believe that? Quinn, we are a family, a weird fucked up family..." Brittany paused for a second as if considering her words, "I guess that means we are a real family," finished Brittany.

"Actions speak louder than words," said Quinn sarcastically. Brittany stood up from her chair went over to Quinn yanked her up gently and swatted her twice hard.

"What the hell Britt?" yelled Quinn.

"That's how much we love you," responded Brittany her tone conveying the intensity of the truth she wanted Quinn to feel, not just hear.

"How is that love?" questioned Quinn angrily.

"We love you. We will support you, be there for you, chastise and punish if you need it, comfort you. It's unconditional Quinn, you get arrested we will bail you out. I know your parents let you down, but we won't. "

"What if I hurt Rachel?" asked Quinn quietly.

"Ok what's going on Quinn? What has happened between you and Rachel?" questioned Brittany her tone had instantly changed to one of concern.

"I made a big mistake Britt and I ruined everything, I messed it all up," tears were starting to stream down her face.

"Quinn you can tell me."

"Promise me," whispered Quinn.

"Promise you what Quinn?" asked Brittany gently.

"That you won't kick me out, or hate me."

"I promise," said Brittany unwaveringly.

"I raped Rachel..."

...

Shelby awoke from her nap in Santana and Brittany's room, she took a moment to wake herself up, and process what to do with the mess that was her daughter and her makeshift family. She heard a slight knock on the door, and Rachel entered the room.

"Sorry I thought Santana was in here." Rachel went to leave the room immediately.

"Rachel come sit down with me."

"I'd rather not, thank you." replied Rachel curtly.

"We have to talk eventually Rachel."

"Why is that exactly?" said Rachel bitterly.

"Because I'm here to stay and I'm your mother."

"No you were a willing rentable uterus, what are you suddenly interested now because my dads are dead and you can come swooping in to the save the day. I don't want you,"

"You don't want me, you need me," replied Shelby

"Go fuck yourself gently with a chainsaw," mocked Rachel. Shelby's eyebrows shot up in complete shock at hearing that come out of the usually polite considerate girl she had got to know over the past few months. Shelby realised at the point she had two options submit to the girl in front of her and try and win her over with niceness, or become a mom.

"Rachel Barbra Berry, speak to me like that again and I will wash your mouth out with soap."

"Seriously did you get that line from a parenting book?" retorted Rachel.

"Would you have said that too Santana?"

Rachel deflated slightly, "no..."

"And why is that?" queried Shelby.

"I'd be punished." Muttered Rachel under her breath so quietly that Shelby had to strain to hear it.

"Rachel I'm going to be honest with you, I want a relationship with you. but I'm not stupid I know I need to earn you trust, but I want you to respect me, not as a mother I know you are not ready for that, one day I hope you are. But you will respect me as an adult, you are a child so I obviously command some respect."

Rachel found she couldn't argue with Shelby's logic, and she found that a bitter pill to swallow. Rachel nodded in agreement.

"But I am telling you now, you swear at me like that again. You won't be able to sit down for a month. Get me?"

Rachel nodded. Shelby took in the appearance of her daughter despite the nap she could see the exhaustion on her face. She beckoned the younger girl over and pulled her tenderly towards the bed. "Go back to bed Rachel, your still tired."

"No I'm not," said Rachel in a petulant tone. Though her general demeanour did nothing to further the case her words made, as she attempted to hide a yawn. Shelby tucked her into Santana's bed, before shutting the light off and creeping out of the room.

...