I am dedicating this chapter to Ohiodefender11 for helping me with this :)

Chapter Forty Nine:

Playing Cards

Telling your parents something that is going change all of your lives is a frightening experience. There were certain things that were easier to tell your parents than others that wouldn't necessarily turn their lives upside down; I failed a test, I got a date, I accidentally lost my driver's licence...but there are certain things that are just more awkward and difficult. For Quinn it was telling her parents she was pregnant. Still Finn did that for her through song no less. For Rachel, it was the fact she was getting bullied. Again she didn't actually have to say anything because her teacher in middle school did that for her. They had called her fathers and asked to set up a meeting where the bombshell their daughter was spending all her time either alone in the playground or crying in the bathroom after some girls had picked on her. Now both girls were realising that there was no third party member who could tell their parents their lives really were going to change. The two of them were sat on the couch, holding each others hands and thighs pressed closely together, facing their parents. The situation reminded Quinn too much of when she was talking to her mother and father about her pregnancy. At least now the faces staring back at them weren't frowning with disgust or anger, just confusion and shock – which really wasn't all that different. And at least she didn't feel completely sick with anxiety. This time she was holding the hand of the girl she was completely in love with and had no secrets. They loved each other and although this was going to be painful – much like the last time she had a confrontation with her mother – she knew things were going to be different.

They weren't planning on telling them so soon. They really wanted to tell them before they went off to college; at least then they would be able to be in a different state and wouldn't have to worry about their parents disowning them and freaking out completely. Quinn would like to blame Rachel, but really that wouldn't be fair: she was the one who slipped the ring on Rachel's finger, and Rachel needed the use of her hands! It was during their Friday night dinner; as one of the few left before they graduated the Leroy and Hiram thought it would be nice to invite Judy and Quinn to join in their dinner. They had come around for dinner before, and they had gone there many times, but tonight something just felt different. It was as if the universe was telling both Leroy and Hiram that the girls were hiding something and that tonight they were going to find out. It was Rachel's turn to make the dinner and both men frowned in puzzlement as they watched her dance around the kitchen. It wasn't of course unusual to see their daughter dancing around the kitchen – or the rest of the house – but what was unusual was that whenever either of them went to go and dance with her, she shrieked and told them to get out of 'her kitchen'. Having a teenage daughter, both men simply assumed it was her 'time of the month' and left her to it. Besides the two men were perfectly contempt with keeping their two guests entertained in living room with a bottle of wine and sharing stories.

The one person who was allowed in the kitchen – besides Rachel of course – was Quinn. Whilst the parents were talking she made her excuses and slipped away. Leaning against the door frame of the kitchen door, Quinn smiled dreamily as she watched her fiancée. She was stood at the stove stirring the vegetable soup and making sure it was hot and didn't have any skin. As she stood stirring the soup, she hummed lightly to herself; "Going to the chapel, and we're gonna get married..." A light giggle escaped Quinn's lips as she watched Rachel's hips sway sensually. Quietly she pushed herself off the door frame and crept over to her. "Gee I really love you," she sang in a hushed voice as she wrapped her arms around Rachel's waist and rested her head on the brunette's shoulder to stop her from jumping. The blonde giggled as she held her hands over Rachel's stomach and pressed light kisses to her girl's neck. "That smells really good," she mumbled, closing her eyes and breathing in the flowery scent of her fiancée. Smiling down at the soup, Rachel smiled and hummed; "Well I hope it tastes as good!" Quinn held her stomach again as she felt her giggle. "Of course it will," she told her, "You cooked it didn't you?"

"You charmer!" Rachel told her back and lifted the spoon out of the pot. She broke herself free of Quinn's arms and spun around. Quinn still held onto her but allowed Rachel to move the spoon to her lips. "Taste this and tell me what you think." She instructed and Quinn opened her mouth. She took the head of the spoon and slurped it all up making satisfied 'mmm' sounds. "It's tastes delicious sweetheart." She smiled and moved her head towards Rachel's. "Now you need to taste something of mine." Closing her eyes she pressed a light, chaste kiss on Rachel's lips and placed the spoon on the counter. Rachel wrapped her arms around Quinn's neck and kissed her back. "Mmm," she hummed and broke the kiss away, "It tastes good," she told her with a light smile on her face, "Although I think it could do with less lip gloss. I prefer no additives or preservative." Quinn giggled and squeezed Rachel's hips, causing the girl to laugh and turn the stove off so they didn't burn either themselves or the soup.

After a few more sweet, chaste kisses, Quinn pushed Rachel back against the kitchen counter and picked up her dainty hand. Whilst Rachel played with the feather light hairs on the back of Quinn's neck, the blonde admired the diamond ring she had slipped onto Rachel's finger over a week ago. She was amazed that they hadn't been caught yet, but then of course they were rather sneaky. As Quinn watched the small diamond in the light as she twirled it in her fingers, she hummed and imagined Rachel cooking dinner just for her. She imagined Rachel being a world renowned Broadway star during the week days, but then at the weekend she would be her wife: she would cook her dinner and they would bake cookies together and then, when the time finally came, they would serve up kiddie food for their children. For now though she was content with allowing Rachel to cook dinner for her family and herself. And then once they were married, they could take turns cooking dinner for each other and cooking together. They would do everything with each other, she was sure of it.

"What are you thinking darling?" Rachel asked quietly, watching Quinn's dreamy eyes become focused once again. She looked up and her smile grew wider. Bringing Rachel's hand up to her lips, she kissed each finger and then whispered; "Imaging the rest of lives together." Rachel grinned back and wrapped her arms around Quinn. Bringing her fiancée to her chest, Rachel whispered; "We just need to tell our parents." Quinn groaned as she imagined what their reaction could be, but before she could voice her groans further, Rachel broke away and took Quinn over to the stove again. "You can help serve up dinner." She smiled and handed Quinn the bowls. Quinn raised her eyebrows at Rachel; "Sure you don't want me to take the heavy, boiling hot pot of soup?" She asked, suddenly fearing Rachel pouring the soup all over herself and scolding herself. Without waiting for Rachel to reply, Quinn shoved the bowls at Rachel and then picked up the pot. "Quinn I can do it myself!" The brunette argued, but Quinn wasn't having any of it. Once she was at the door she called back, "Just think of it as practice for when you're carrying our first baby." With a wink she left Rachel speechless and so she went to put the pot on the table, calling in the parents.

Hearing the call that their dinner was to be served, Leroy, Hiram and Judy made their way into the dinning room. Judy was laughing at something Hiram had said, and allowed herself to have her seat pulled out for her. "Hiram you must remember to give me the name of the drapist you used," she gushed, placing her glass of sparkling water down on the table. "The curtains in your living room are just fabulous!" Hiram beamed at her and began to divulge into immense detail how he had picked them out during a vacation with Leroy and Rachel years ago when they went to Pennsylvania. "They simply are remarkable aren't they?" He gushed back, sitting in his own seat once his husband had held it out to him. "They should be," Leroy mumbled, "They cost enough!" As he sat down he stuck out his tongue at Hiram as the latter scowled at him. Before the conversation on drapes and curtains continued, Rachel and Quinn continued to bring out things for their dinner. Quinn had already placed the pot of soup on the table and she was now bringing out bread and more napkins if they needed whilst Rachel placed the bowls in the places of the parents. Anyone would think that this would be a simple task to perform, however Rachel had slipped up. As she was placing her daddy's bowl under his nose, she forgot to somehow cover up her hand. Specifically her left hand.

Just as she was moving her hand away, Hiram gasped. "Oh my goodness what is that?" The table of parents stopped what they were doing and looked to Rachel and Hiram. It was as if time had stopped and Quinn's eyes widened comically. Rachel mirrored her facial expression and gulped, putting on her infamous Show Face. "Is what daddy?" She asked, moving her hand away from him, however not fast enough as Hiram too hold of said hand and held it up. By this point, Leroy had come to his husband's side and looked at Rachel's hand as well. Both men were now studying the ring their daughter – their only child – wore and their eyes widened to match the girls'. Without taking his eyes of the delicate, precious, small diamond Leroy asked in a shocked voice; "Is this a wedding ring?" He sounded a little choked and Rachel wanted to pour him a glass of wine. Or water. However as well as almost speechless, she was frozen. "Actually Sir, it's an engagement ring." Quinn corrected, her voice sounding just as choked but stronger. Leroy then snapped his eyes up to Rachel's and he frowned at her, as if she had spoken.

In that moment Rachel was slightly fearful of her father. She was unsure if he was going to yell, cry, or beam at her. No matter how the next few seconds would go, Rachel was certain he wouldn't react with the latter. Surely enough, within a few more seconds Rachel found out. "Rachel Barbara Berry what is the meaning of this?" He threw his hand firmly on his hip and got ride of his scowl, instead proceeding to just widening his eyes as wide as possible. Rachel gulped again and she looked towards Quinn, however just as she was about to speak, Leroy spoke again. "No, no," he shook his head and caused his daughter to look at him again, "Don't look at Quinn, look at me," he ordered and causing Judy to stand up. "Rachel why do you have an engagement ring on your hand?" There was a moment of silence as Rachel thought of what to say. She couldn't very well lie and say she just put a ring on her wrong finger: it was clearly an engagement ring. Instead Rachel took a deep breath, licked her lips and exhaled. "Quinn..asked me to marry her." Rachel told him quietly and with a near shaky voice. "And I said yes." She told her dad, looking quickly at her daddy. Both men suddenly deflated at the announcement, behind Rachel Judy also did the same. Hiram stood up and together the two men looked down at their daughter. "We need to have a talk girls." Leroy told them, his eyes flickering to Quinn as well. The blonde girl looked at her mother who also gave her own daughter a stern look. "Shall we proceed to the living room?" Judy asked, but without waiting for a reply, simply walked out of the dinning room and into the living room. She was followed by a heavy footed Leroy and a slightly lighter stepped Hiram.

Both girls now sat next to each other, hand in hand, and awaited for their parents to yell, scream, tell them they were crazy and then eventually accept their decision. After what felt like years of just three sets of eyes staring at them in bewilderment, Leroy cleared his throat and began speaking. "Rachel," he started, "We know you love Quinn and we know you're very happy, but sweetheart, do you really think you should be getting married?" Rachel smiled at her puzzled dad and squeezed Quinn's hand tighter. "Dad, daddy, you are exactly right. I love Quinn so why not?"

"Because Rachel you're too young!" Hiram spoke up. "I know we taught you that love holds no boundaries but surely your age is a valid one."

"Daddy we're eighteen, not eight!" Rachel argued, "Besides we're still going to go to college and focus on our studies, but we're just going to do it together," she looked at the blonde next to her and dreamy look in her eyes, "Together as a married couple." Both Hiram and Leroy shook their heads at their daughter. "How can you think that you'll focus on your studies if your married?" Leroy asked, shaking his head and raising his hands in a 'what are you thinking' motion. "It's simple," Rachel began to explain, "We won't be worried or focused on finding people to impress or worrying about the other cheating because we will be in a committed, real adult relationship." She nodded her head and smiled quickly at Quinn.

Quinn smiled back at Rachel but moved her focus onto her own bewildered mother. She saw her forehead was creased and her mouth was in a tight, thin line. "Mom what do you think?" She asked, before either of the three Berrys could continue with their own discussion on the matter of their surprise engagement. Judy shook herself out of her little daze and looked into the eyes of her daughter. She gave her daughter a look that Quinn couldn't read. It was a look that was cross between a deer being caught in head lights and a look of 'I've just seen a ghost.' Quite frankly, Quinn didn't know how she wanted he rmom to react. This certainly wasn't how she wanted her mother to find out she had spent hundreds of dollars on a ring and then proposed to her girlfriend. Leroy could see how the situation could get uncomfortable for everyone – what with Judy unable to speak, having gone from being shocked and mad to just shocked – and so he stood. "Why don't we go into the kitchen and Quinn you stay here with your mother?" Hiram stood up as well, nodding his head but Rachel was having none of it. "No," she said quickly, holding onto Quinn's arm with her other hand. "We should stick together. That's what this engagement is about; we're going to do everything together. The good and the bad, for richer for poorer for-"

"Rachel," Quinn cut her off from her rambling and turned to her. Shifting her body so she was facing her completely. "It's okay," she told her with a small smile and a quite voice. "You talk with your dads and I'll talk with my mom and then..." She shrugged and sighed, "And then we'll figure something out, okay?" Quinn stared into Rachel's chocolate orbs and Rachel stared back into Quinn's glossy eyes. As much as she wanted to stay and support Quinn for what was probably going to be an uncomfortable conversation, Rachel nodded.

Untangling themselves from their love bonding hold, the two girls separated. Quinn stayed sat on the couch and Rachel allowed herself to be lead into the kitchen by her fathers, not before mouthing; "I love you" to each other. Rachel loved the dramatics, and this 'goodbye' felt fitting as both girls really did feel like they were loosing each other forever by the hands of their parents: like Romeo and Juliet, Tony and Maria and all the other star-crossed lovers throughout time.

Before Rachel had even made herself comfortable on the kitchen stool at the breakfast island, Leroy and Hiram began to talk at at her. Leroy stood with his hands flat on the table and he leaned over, channelling the 'bad cop' within him. "Rachel do you know what you're doing?"He asked her in his classic dramatic television CSI police detective voice. With her hands clasped in front of her, Rachel straightened her back and nodded her head. "Yes of course I do." She answered with a proud smile and an even prouder tone. "No," Shaking his head Leroy told her, "stop thinking with your heart for a second okay and think with your head." Pointing out the obvious Hiram piped up, "You are engaged." Standing next to his husband, mirroring his position with his hands slightly wider apart and his face less intimidating, but heavy with concern. "Let's just forget the fact she's a girl, but you are eighteen years old and in a few months you will be nineteen. Before you turn nineteen and therefore in even less amounts of months time you will be packing up your things and moving to New York to go to college for four years. Rachel, can you honestly tell us that you want to be married whilst you are in college?" He asked, trying to get across to her what an awful idea it was. He thought playing to her academic side instead of her romantic Broadway dream side would work better in his favour. However Rachel simply kept her smile on her lips and replied back cooly, "To Quinn yes," without much of a hesitation, only a slightly pause for yet more dramatic effect. "Seriously?" Sounding shocked and showing his surprise by raising his eyebrows and straightening his body. "Do you not know how much stuff you're going to miss out on?" This time Rachel produced her own version of a surprised and shock expression. "What stuff?" She asked, clutching her hands harder together and keeping her body more rigid. She knew how to play the 'innocent daughter card', much like her dads thought they knew how to play academic daughter card. She raised her eyebrow, much like she saw her girlf-fiancée do on numerous occasions. "Do you guys really want me sleeping around and making out with tonnes of guys and ignoring my studies in favour of pursuing relationships with no future?" She asked her question speaking slowly and deliberately enunciating the horrific parts.

Once they had finished listening to her share what could happen – and what did happen to numerous college students – Leroy and Hiram turned to look at each other with equally worried expressions, thinking and unfortunately imagining their daughter doing all that stuff. Leroy turned back to Rachel with a heavy sigh. "Well no," reluctantly he admitted, "but college is all about meeting new people and having new experiences-"

"Both of which I will able to do but just with a ring on my finger and a promise in my heart." Rachel interjected. "Rachel you are so young!" Hiram exclaimed with a slight exasperated tone. "Why do you want to get married at this age?" His voice had turned a little whiny which made Rachel sigh. She stood up and walked over to her two caring and overprotective fathers, dragging her hand along the surface of the island. "I love Quinn dads." Sighing once again she told her parents, instantly imaging the blonde girl to be saying the exact same thing about her to her mother just a door away. "I love her so much and I want to spend as much time with her as possible and by time I am referring to as much of my life as possible. She will be in Yale and I will be in Julliard. We will both be getting our degrees and pursuing our dreams and ambitions, just married to each other. We want to spend the rest of our lives together and we want to start now living our lives entwined now. If you love someone, why wait?" By the time she had finished her little declaration of love, Rachel was stood in between the middle of her two fathers, looking up at them both.

Again her dad and daddy glanced at each other. This time the worry was less present but it was still there. Leroy looked down at his daughter and put one of his large hands on her shoulder. "Okay, we get the fact you love her. A blind man in space could see that," he said, making Hiram chuckle on the other side of Rachel. "But Rachel you know it's going to be hard." He warned her, now trying to play the 'the adult world is hard' card. "Yes I understand marriage is hard."

"Not just marriage sweetheart but marriage to another girl." Hiram stepped in, covering her other shoulder with his own hand – a hand that was smaller than his husband's but still much larger than Rachel's. Again Rachel looked at her father's, turning her head to each side like watching a tennis match. "Dad, daddy," she began, changing her tone of voice to a more serious but understanding one. "I've seen from living with you guys my entire life just how hard life can be in a same sex marriage." And she was right. Of course all marriages had their ups and their downs and Rachel's parent's marriage was no different: they had fights and arguments and bickered over little issues, but at the end of the day they still loved each other and at the end of the day, what were small normal marital problems that were present within any relationship, wasn't that all that mattered? "But," their smart, wise and brilliant daughter continued, "We're going to be living in New York. New York City! One of the most diverse and least prejudice places in the world. If we can be happy and be ourselves there then where can we be?"

Her fathers knew she was right. That was one of the great things about New York. Everyone there really did seem so accepting of a lot of things. But of course Rachel was their baby girl, their only little girl and their lives would always be about protecting her and making sure she was okay. Although New York City was a diverse and fairly prejudice free – not completely of course but still better than some places – there would still be people who wouldn't like her to be married to another girl. It was just the way things were. "But still just because New York City is known to be an all accepting place, you will no doubt meet people who will not like your life style." Leroy told her, hoping that by bringing up the reality once again of just how cruel the world could be. "People might not like my lifestyle anyway." Rachel argued back, shrugging her shoulders. She took her hands hands and turned them around, casually sitting them down on the stools they were standing in front of. She held onto their hands and looked in their eyes as she began yet another list. "I'm Jewish and there are a lot of people out there who might not like that. I'm going to be a Broadway Star, people might not like that either and then to top it all off you have the fact I am going to be married to another girl." She shook their hands, seeing them nod their heads at her logic. "Honestly I don't think people in New York City will care that much. They've legalised gay marriage and hopefully other states will do the same." Giving both fathers a smile, Rachel walked in between them and wrapped her arms around their neck, bringing them to her in a squishy hug. "I know you guys are worried about me and I love that about you guys, but the world is changing. Yes homophobia is still around but as long as there are people out there to fight against it, Quinn and I will be fine." Each of her fathers wrapped the arm that was being squished into Rachel's sides around her small waist and held onto the other man's elbow. They were connected, always had been and always would be. No matter what challenges their lives had they would face them together.

Hiram was so proud of his daughter. It was clear she loved Quinn just as much as he loved his husband. It was also clear that she had also thought about this a lot. He trusted her. Of course he did. He had always wanted a little girl to spoil and turn into a little princess, but this was still a big step for anyone to take. His heart shattered whenever she cried or was sad and if she was going to have her own heart broken over a break up or a bad ending to a relationship as serious as this, he would never forgive himself if she turned around and accused them of not preparing her enough for it. Leroy trusted Rachel as well, but being the slightly more 'overbearing' one of the two fathers, it was taking him a bit more brain time to really think things through. "We love you Rachel, with a small sigh he told her once again, "You know we do and we want you to be happy."

"I am happy." Looking at him Rachel told him sternly but with a light tone just to exaggerate the fact she was happy. "Why do you guys still look so unsure?" Reluctantly, Leroy de-tangled himself from the hug they had wound themselves into and he stood in front of Rachel, putting his hands on her shoulders and leaning down to look her right in her beautiful deep brown eyes. His voice was low, serious but deeply, deeply full of love, care and concern. "Rachel are you sure this is what you want? I mean after everything she put you through?" Now the conversation had turned. She wasn't expecting this. She wasn't expecting her dad to bring back up the past and she was not going to let him get away with it. With a slight frown, she asked; "What do you mean?" And she licked her lips to prepare herself to jump in to stop her dad, just in case. "I mean the bullying and the name calling and the fact her father almost killed to twice-" Instead of stopping him words, at first, she chose to press her own hands onto his shoulder, a small smile playing on her lips. "Dad, she loves me and I love her."

"I know you do, but can you really put all that behind you?"

"I don't hold grudges. I have forgiven Quinn numerous times for her past mistakes and now when I look at her all I can see is the overflowing, overwhelming, over passionate love she has for me."

"What about her father?" He asked, this time allowing all of his fears at loosing his daughter flood through and shine out in his eyes, like the rays of the sun through a cloud.

At that point Rachel saw what he was so worried about. Her dad was worried about her being hurt again, not just by the people in the outside world, but by Quinn and her family. Yes it was true Quinn had hurt her. She had hurt her with names and by ordering slushies and even taking advantage of her. But with all those things she was being manipulated. She was being manipulated by the desperate need to prove something to her father. He had pushed her to be 'the best' and to be strong, the strongest, and to destroy the weaker ones. Now that manipulation was gone. He was no longer around. She and Quinn could be happy. They could live and not have to worry about that. They could be together and nothing could stand in their way.

Gently Rachel moved her hands from her dad's strong, broad shoulders and slide them up his neck so that they rested on his face, cupping his cheeks. "Russell is in prison." In a quiet voice she told him. "He isn't coming out for a long, long time and when he does he won't be able to come anywhere near Quinn and I. Dad, Daddy, I swear to you I love Quinn with my whole existence that's why I accepted her proposal, that's why I want to marry her!"

"Rachel if you seriously want to marry Quinn and be married to her whilst in college, then I support you." Together the father and daughter shared their moment of trust and love. Grinning at his daughter, Leroy wrapped his arms around Rachel and pulled her in for a hug. Not wanting to miss out on the moment, Hiram stood from his stool and joined in, wrapping his arms around both his husband and his daughter, making a 'Berry Sandwich'. "Me too." He announced. "I never thought my daughter would be a wife whilst she was eighteen going on nineteen but I guess if you love each other that much to want to marry her now then..why should we stand in the way?"

"So I have your blessing?" Rachel asked, her voice being muffled by the bear hug she was currently in. "You have more than our blessing." Hiram laughed, placing a kiss on the top of her head, followed by his husband.

Inside, Rachel felt like shrieking and jumping up and down like a kangaroo on high on sugar, but instead she settled for grinning as widly as she could, closing her eyes as tightly as she could and mustering up the clearest image of Quinn to be projected in front of her eyes as she could and she whispered with as much love and as she could; "Thank you dads."

Meanwhile in the living room, Quinn was taking deep breaths whilst waiting for her mom to talk. The older blonde had been silently staring into the air, her gaze fixated on her face but with slightly narrowed eyebrows and slightly wrinkled brow. The silence was beginning to not only scare Quinn a little, but annoy her too. She wanted to know what her mom was thinking. She had to know how she was going to react. She wanted to know how Leroy and Hiram had reacted once they had talked with Rachel, but now she just wanted her own mother to talk to her about her life altering announcement.

"Mom?" She asked, the sound coming out more hoarse than she wanted so she cleared her throat and asked again a little louder. "Mom?" This time at hearing her name, Judy looked at Quinn. Really looked at Quinn. In front of her she saw her little girl. She saw her little Lucy sitting gazing back at her. She then saw her Lucy grow from a pretty little girl, to an outcast middle schooler and then change once again into a stunning teenager. Now she saw her Quinn sit in front of her looking poised, grown up and yet still living in the shadow of her younger self. "I don't know." The older blonde whispered. As soon as her statement left her mouth and reached Quinn's ears, she saw her daughter's eyebrows flicker slightly. "I don't know..what I think." She clarified, her voice shaking slightly. A tear was forming in her eye and a lump in her throat. She had one daughter who was married to a successful man and would soon be having children of her own. In front of her now, she had a daughter who she assumed would be following in those same footsteps. Of course Rachel was going to be successful. She was going to a superstar. And she knew that Quinn was going to excel at whatever it was she was going to do with her life. The difference between her two wonderful daughters was, Frannie's life was obvious. She was going to marry and have children. A man. She was going to marry a man. Quinn had had a child, but she had the chance to have more. But now with this revelation, of actually getting married to Rachel, she wasn't sure if she would be able to. Judy wasn't ignorant. She knew that amazing things were happening with science. That IVF was possible and sperm donors and even studies and trials making a way for two women to have biological babies together...but she had just never pictured her daughter, her Quinn, would ever have to think of that. She knew that Quinn would want children someday, but she just didn't know how she herself would be able to handle having a grandchild that was half Quinn's and half some stranger's, or even having a 'grandchild' that biologically had nothing to do with Quinn because it was actually Rachel's. She had taken the time to accept Quinn's feelings for Rachel, accepted their relationship, but she wouldn't be lying if she had never thought that her daughter would 'change her mind'. That she would one day break up with the singer and go back to dating boys. The fact that the two girls were now engaged and were going to be getting married, only made it all more real to her.

A tear had finally trickled out of her eye and was now sliding down her face. Quinn couldn't help but clench her fists together at the sight. "You don't want me to get married to her do you?" She asked, staring strongly at her mother. What surprised her this time was that her mother actually shook her head. Quinn frowned because she wasn't sure what that meant. Did it mean that, yes she was agreeing with her and she didn't want her to marry Rachel or was she disagreeing with her? Before she could ask however, Judy raised her head and focused on Quinn's hazel-green eyes. "I always wanted you to get married, Quinn," she told her, her voice soft and quiet because of the tears. "I always wanted you to get married and have children and a successful career-"

"But you wanted me to be married a man and having children with a man and having a successful career with a man by my side." She couldn't help the harsh tone her voice was using, but really there was no other way she could say it. Judy nodded her head at her daughter. "Could you honestly tell me you haven't thought of Beth getting married to a man?" She knew it was a low blow and a painful one at that, but Judy could play her cards too. She played the 'talking about your life but using the daughter you gave up for adoption' card. Quinn widened her eyes slightly, angered that her mother had really brought her daughter into this conversation. "I would want her to be happy, no matter who she was marrying," she told her mother seriously, "I wouldn't care if she was marrying a boy or a girl or a boy who wants to be a girl or a girl who wants to be a boy. As long as they were a good, no, great person and she was loved and happy, then I would be happy for her." At her words Judy nodded her head and bit her lip.

A silence fell over the two and Quinn tried to take some calming breaths. Again, before she had the chance to say any more – this time about how much she loved Rachel – her mother once again beat her to it. "I am happy for you Quinn," Judy whispered. "I am so happy for you." More tears were falling from her eyes as she got off the couch, walked over to her daughter and knelt in front of her. She took Quinn's fists, placed them in her lap and held them in her own hands. "I am so happy for you Quinn." Ducking her head slightly to make sure her daughter was fully looking at her. "Do you know how hard it is to find your soul mate? To find the one person in this world that gives you a reason to get up in the morning? To find that one sparkle that makes your whole world light up and wish and pray that it will never go out?" Smiling slightly, she placed her palm on her daughter's cheek. "I thought I knew what that was like. I thought I knew what love looked like. I thought I knew what it meant for two people to want to need each other and never be apart from one another." With more tears rolling down her face, Judy sadly shook her head. "With your father I realise now that I never knew what that was. But looking at you two, at you and Rachel together, I know what all of those love songs, and love poems, and love stories are all about. I now know that you and Rachel are simply made for one another. You are both girls and at some point in my life I would have objected, but I know that you two are exactly what love is." As she listened to her mother's words, Quinn couldn't help but smile back at her and she loosened her tense muscles. "I want you to walk me down the aisle mom," Quinn told her, choking back her own tears. "I want you next to me as I walk to whoever it is who's going to marry me and Rachel, and I want you to stand with me as I wait for my bride to meet me there." Neither she nor Rachel had discussed the arrangements of their wedding too much just yet, but Quinn knew she wanted to see Rachel float down the aisle. She wanted to be the 'groom' and watched her bride walk to her. But she also wanted her mom to give her away. Sniffling Judy nodded her head frantically and rose to her feet, pulling Quinn into a tight hug.

Moments later, a reunion had formed in the living room. All four people were crying with tears of joy. The young lovers held each other and embraced, as they really felt they were going to be separated. The parents wrapped their arms around each other and jumped up and down, squealing and rejoicing in the fact they were going to be in laws. The lovers, however, didn't hear the laughter and cries from the their parents. They held each other, eyes locked, and they shared their own moment; a more intimate moment. Quinn held Rachel by her waist, Rachel holding Quinn with her arms around her neck, and they rocked each other to their private beat. Quinn pushed her head forward and pressed a light kiss to the tip of Rachel's nose. "I need to tell my dad," she admitted with her lips hovering over Rachel's. The brunette looked up at Quinn and saw determination filling her orbs. Although she wanted to protest, Rachel just knew that she had to. This would be the final time they would talk indefinitely, both girls were sure of it.

A few days later – and a lot of protest from all three of the parents – Quinn headed off to the prison. Rachel had begged her if she could go with her, but with a final stern look and a firm kiss on the lips, Quinn got in her car and drove off. The prison was, for lack of a better word, scary. It was grey and tall and had barbed wire around the top. The gates were taller than she thought and she was actually scared just going in as a visitor. She was checked and had her belongings taken away and then lead to the waiting room. It surprised her to see the people in the waiting room: there was an old woman with a prison bag that contained (what Quinn assumed) were gifts for whoever she was visiting, a few women who were sharing similar looks of sadness and frustration and finally, the most heartbreaking, a little boy with his mother holding his hand firmly. Looking at that innocent looking little boy, she imagined the stories he had been told; the ones where all the daddies were the superheroes saving the world and that they couldn't do anything wrong and that they should grow up to be just like them. Now she felt sorry for him, having to visit his dad in prison. Just like her.

Soon enough she, and the other visitors, were lead out of the room and into the place where the prisoners and the 'free people' met. Because of what had happened to Quinn, she was placed with two muscular prison guards next to her and was seated by the door where the prisoners were let in, in case anything happened. She was nervous but she knew she had to do this. It was closure, but also revenge. Within minutes the bell rang – causing Quinn to jump a little – and the prisoners were let in. Around her, she saw people stand and greet the men they were meeting, the little boy screaming with glee "Daddy!" and being lifted into a bone crunching hug. She knew there would be no such reunion with her own father. Her breath hitched as she saw him. As ever he held his head high as he walked in, being escorted by two officers. What made him different as well, was that his hands were in handcuffs. As soon as he set his eyes on her, he scowled. She wanted to scowl back, but knew she had the upper hand. A hand full of aces and royalty. He sat down – flagged by the police officers – and looked at her.

For minutes that's all they did. They just looked at each other. She was still the same girl, and unfortunately he was still the same man. After a while he spoke; "What are you doing here?" His voice was thick with anger, but still and calm. In her seat his daughter straightened up again. "I proposed to Rachel and I'm going to marry her after graduation." She told him, not wanting to stay any longer than necessary. She watched as her father tried to control his rage. He squirmed in his seat and inhaled through his nose. "And did you come here for my approval?" Spitting his words he asked. Scoffing, Quinn shook her head. "No. I don't need your blessing. Although it would be nice to have my father walk me down the aisle to my wedding, I think mom would do just as good a job if not better. I'm going to be marrying Rachel-"

"Like hell you are-" He growled, banging his chained hands on the table.

"There's nothing you can do to stop me." She told him with her own snarl, leaning in and growling just like him. "I love her, dad, and I'm going to spend the rest of my life with her."

"Why are you doing this Quinn? Is it to hurt me? Is it because I kicked you out when you were pregnant?"

"I'm not doing this because of you," she said shaking her head at him. "Like I said, I'm doing this because I love her and don't ever want to be apart from her."

"Then you're not my daughter any more."

"That's just a price I'm going to have to pay. I'd rather have the love of my life by my side than my jerk of a father breathing down my neck anyway."

Without waiting to hear any more, Quinn stood up and said thank you to the officers, who then lead her away and out of the prison, never to return.

Once the sunlight hit Quinn's skin, she closed her eyes and turned her head up to the sky. She was free now. She didn't need her father's permission any more. He wasn't 'God' any more. She could do what she wanted and she didn't need his approval or being intimidated by him. What she really wanted to do now, was get back to Rachel – the absolute love of her life – and marry her. Delicately slide a wedding ring onto her finger, nestling it next to her engagement ring, entwine her fingers with Rachel's and never let go.

Opening her eyes and not caring that the light was far too bright, she smiled; "Let's go get married."