A/N: I am so sorry about this uber late update. I have been touring. Gah! Massachusetts was unreal! Back home now and I even had to watch the latest episode on the plane; downloaded it before I boarded.
Nope, no one's going to be hit by a truck in this chapter. The title kinda clicked for this, too, so yeah. For my avid readers out there, if I have any, in case you forgot what happened in the previous chapter (since it's been ages since I last updated), we're picking up from the battle of who's going to propose first.
The ride to Lima was surprisingly silent for Quinn and Santana.
Quinn settled to reading her book although she was already done with it, just so she can pretend to be casual around Santana. Truth is she was nervous that Santana would ask her what was going on because frankly, she still doesn't have the guts to tell her best friend about it.
Santana was protective and Quinn was sure they're bound for a serious talk and she didn't want that just yet. It took her a dose of courage to finally admit to herself that she wanted to propose and she didn't need a reason to think that she was making a bad decision.
Santana, on the other hand, just settled for a movie in Quinn's iPad. She had her earphones on but the volume was low. It was just low enough for her to hear Quinn if ever the blonde decided to tell her what's going on.
Somehow, she had a feeling about what this whole trip was about. She knew it was something important to her best friend because no one, under normal circumstances, would drag someone halfway across the country just to have coffee.
Quinn and Santana talked casually on the way from Dayton to Lima, all the while ignoring the elephant in the room.
A few hours more and Quinn found herself sitting across Judy and Santana inside the Fabray mansion. She was picking on her barely eaten salad as Santana and Judy talked about Lily.
She didn't engage in their conversation because really, her heart was threatening to jump out of her body anytime. This is it.
"Quinn? What's going on?"
Of course, Judy would be the one to break it first.
Judy looked at Quinn and only saw how nervous she was at that moment. When she heard that Quinn was coming home with Santana to discuss something, she instantly knew that this was important.
She had to stop herself from asking Quinn if she was pregnant again because that would sound all too wrong. She had been waiting for Quinn to say something but she knew that even Santana was growing tired of the anticipation.
Quinn took a deep breath. This is really is it.
"Quinn, I swear, we don't have all day," Santana said as she rolled her eyes. "Will you just tell –"
"I'mproposingtoRachel," Quinn said fast, once and for all.
Santana and Judy's mouths hang open at what Quinn said and at how fast she said it.
Quinn looked at Santana and Judy expecting a verbal reaction but nothing came. That's when she started to panic, "I – I haven't got the ring, I'll be getting it tomorrow. I'm planning to do this soon like on the weekend. I –"
Quinn trailed off weakly, assured that Santana and Judy disapproved – if their lack of reaction was anything to go by. She sighed sadly and went back to staring at her barely touched salad.
"I just feel like it's the time to settle down. I love her and I want her to be my wife."
This was the part that Quinn actually expected them to say something but they still haven't said anything. "Say something," she begged. "Please."
Nothing.
"I just wanted to tell you first because you're my family and... I was hoping you could hit me in the head if you think that I'm making a terrible decision," she said softly. "I am so scared."
Quinn continued to gently shove the salad pieces to the sides of the plate as if forming a circle. She was indulged in her own misery when a hand reached out to hers.
She looked up and saw Judy beaming. It relieved her to the ends of the Earth. She turned to Santana and saw her wearing her signature "I knew it" smirk. Tears threatened her eyes and she had to stop herself from crying because she knew that the look on their faces was sign of support.
"I can't wait for my grandchild," Judy said, excitement obvious in her voice.
Santana laughed and Quinn stared at her in surprise, "Mom, I'm just about to propose."
Judy laughed as she shook her head, "I can't help it. It took you both so long."
Santana rolled her eyes, "Those girls are nuts."
Quinn smiled, "So, what do you think?"
Judy beamed once more, "I'm proud of you, Quinn."
She looked at her mother and both Fabrays smiled warmly at each other. A few years ago, back in the day when they lived under the shadows of Russell Fabray, none of them knew that this will happen – them sharing a moment as mother and daughter. True, the history of their mother-daughter relationship wasn't something to be proud of but they have worked on it slowly but surely.
There were many times that Quinn wanted to hear this, her mom saying that she's proud of her.
There were also many times that Judy said it but it was the first time Quinn believed it. She heard Judy say it when she graduated with honors in high school and college, she heard it when she landed her first job, she heard it when they first faced Shelby and Beth with Puck; but it was probably the first time Quinn ever considered that there was really something to be proud of.
For once, she made her mother proud of something she's about to do for herself – to make herself happy in the long run.
Quinn took a deep breath and smiled, "Do you think she'll say yes?" She turned to Santana expectantly.
Santana shrugged. She tried to hide it because she didn't want to seem over dramatic but she was a bit surprised and excited and... protective. Damn. She already wanted to talk to Quinn one-on-one and warn her about what she was about to do. Her best friend instincts were working at a rapid pace but she needed to trust Quinn. She knew she needed to trust her best friend and just for once – let her do it her way.
Quinn pouted her signature get-Santana-Lopez pout and Santana rolled her eyes, "Did you really have to do that?"
"I need your opinion, San," Quinn said.
"I don't even understand why I have to be here."
Quinn smiled, "San, you're say matters to me, a lot. You've kept me together all these years and I'm about to go out of my mind again."
Santana rolled her eyes again, not in annoyance but in effort to hide how touched she was. Sure, it was a great hassle to travel back to Lima in such short notice but after hearing that, well, maybe it was worth it.
"Just go for it," Santana said as she smiled. "She's going to freak the hell out."
They laughed.
"Are you sure about this?" Judy asked. This is the part that Quinn was expecting – Santana and Judy asking her if she was sure.
Quinn nodded because she's sure, as hell.
"Why now?" Santana asked. "You could've asked her a long time ago or you can wait for her to ask. Rachel Berry going down on one knee asking Quinn Fabray to be her wife would be the most epic moment of all the epic moments in Glee club history."
Quinn chuckled, "I don't know. I just felt it like I was ready."
Judy gave Quinn a concerned look, "I'm not trying to dishearten you but Quinn this isn't just a thing you do to prove your point. This is a promise, Quinn, something you'll have to hold on to for the next years of your life."
Quinn took a deep breath, "I love her. I don't know where this will take me but I need Rachel to know how much I love her because I do love her – to that extent and more."
Judy smiled, "We all know that. I just wanted to know how sure you are about this. If this engagement fails, it could destroy you. If she says no, it could ruin you."
"I know but I'm sure about Rachel," she said. "I've never been this sure about anything in my life."
Santana smiled as she met Quinn's eyes. Again, just like the many times that Quinn and Santana didn't need words to talk, the blonde knew that Santana is with her in this.
"When your father asked me to marry him, I could swear it was one of the happiest days of my life," Judy said which caused both Santana and Quinn to look at her. "I loved him and I said yes right away because he was a good man."
"Was," Quinn emphasized.
"You're very much like your father, Quinn."
Quinn's eyes grew wide because no, she wasn't a bad person and her father is a bad person, "Mom?"
"Russell was a hopeless romantic," Judy said softly. "He pictured a perfect life with me and you and Frannie. Every day, for the early part of our marriage, he kept that image of a family with him and did everything just so he can make it come true. When everything started falling apart, he fell apart with it all."
"I'm not like him, mom. I will never give up on Rachel."
"Your father didn't give up on us, Quinn."
Their eyes met and for the first time in years, Quinn tried to understand by heart everything that happened to her family.
"Your father gave up on himself."
Quinn swallowed. She didn't expect to hear this from Judy.
"When he kicked you out when you got pregnant, he hated himself because he felt like he was a failure, not as a father, but as a person. He couldn't accept it that's why he turned his back on you. But he wanted to be there for you, he just didn't know how. All his life, he had this image of a perfect family and you, getting pregnant at 16 wasn't in that picture," Judy said as she tried to blink away the tears that formed in her eyes. "I know you will never give up on Rachel the way your father never gave up trying to make us the perfect family but Quinn, I don't want you to be like your father when he gave up on himself, on his dreams."
Quinn took a deep breath as she tried to stop her tears.
"Your father was a good man, Quinn, before he lost sight of everything he really cared about," Judy smiled hopelessly.
"Why are you telling me all of this?"
"Because Quinn when you marry Rachel, you will have to start thinking about the kind of wife you will be to her, the kind of mother you will be to your future children and if you got so caught up with all these dreams, you'll be so obsessed of making it come true and when they don't, it could break you."
"Are you saying that I shouldn't –"
"The first word you ever said when you were nine months old was 'Daddy'."
Tears welled in Quinn's eyes.
"It was the moment I knew that you were going to grow up as a daddy's girl and you did. When you wanted something, you'll travel to hell and back just make it all come true but there's one thing you have right now that your father didn't."
Quinn just looked at Judy.
"Rachel."
Judy smiled as she reached out and held Quinn's hand once again, "I never told your father that he was wrong about his image of a family because I also wanted it to be that way. I went with what he wanted and when everything became hard…" Judy sighed, "I gave up on him."
"Rachel's not gonna give up on me," Quinn said as she smiled.
Judy shook her head as she smiled warmly at Quinn, "She's not ever going to give up on you and you can't give up on you, too. The constant struggle to keep your family together is going to be hard, Quinn. But unlike your father, you have someone who will remind you of the person you are before things got hard."
"You weren't a bad wife."
"No, I was not but I was also not good enough to correct him when he was wrong."
"Mom, are you still blaming yourself?"
"No, this is me telling you what you should learn from us because if there's anyone in our family that was greatly affected, it would be you. We deprived you of a real family for so long and I don't want you to deprive yourself of that anymore."
Quinn smiled because finally, she understood what Judy was trying to say.
"Rachel is going to be the family that you never had Quinn and you have to fight, everyday, to keep that family together especially when times are hard but while you're at it, remind yourself why Rachel fell in love with you in the first place."
Judy looked away, "I loved your father, Quinn but I failed on reminding him the man that he was before his dreams came crashing down. You are so lucky to have Rachel because she's always going to be a reminder of the lengths you went through to be happy; use that to your advantage."
Quinn nodded as she smiled.
She loved her dad and though she still haven't forgiven him for everything that he did, she still remembers the time when Russell tucked her to sleep and promised her that tomorrow was going to be a better day for Lucy. Once in her life, she looked up to her father because Russell Fabray was a good man before everything went down.
And Quinn wasn't Russell or Judy; she's Quinn and though for some time in her life she hated what her last name became associated with, she will never forget that she's the youngest daughter of two people who once loved each other.
Yes, she knows how she wants her family with Rachel to be like but her marriage is going to work because aside from having her mom's sense of self, she has Rachel. She has Rachel and she knows that she has someone who will never give up on her even if every image inside her head wasn't real.
Santana sighed audibly, feeling the pressure to throw something at the table, "It's hard sometimes."
Both Fabrays turned to Santana and Quinn just stared at her best friend because even if she had been living with the Pierce-Lopez' for a year now, she had never heard Santana complain about anything.
"When Brits and I would fight, she would never yell at me and I hate that because when I'm yelling, I want people to yell back at me but she never did. But she doesn't talk to me either. Long after the yelling is over, she would always ask me, 'are you done now?'"
Quinn just looked at Santana because Quinn saw how Santana put her rage onto Brittany every time her studies stressed her.
"Brits never got mad at me and when I asked her why, she would just tell me, 'I know you and I know you'll never try to hurt me intentionally because the Santana Lopez I know loves me too much to do that.'"
"I always wondered what Brittany saw in you," Quinn said jokingly.
Santana rolled her eyes, "Believe me, up until this day, I still ask myself what I have done to deserve her but each time I see her and Lily, I am reminded that I am so much better than the person I was before I had them."
Santana met Quinn's eyes and said, "I loved who I was before I fell in love with Brits but I like the Santana that Brittany had turned me into because it's the Santana that knew how to hold on to something even if times were hard."
Judy nodded and Quinn was sure they rehearsed everything they were saying to her because their words were working.
"You can't lose yourself in marriage, Quinn but you'll have to let go of some parts of your past to be able to grip on to your present. If only I trusted myself enough to correct your father, I would have saved us but I didn't."
"Too much sense of self, Judy," Santana joked.
Judy nodded, "Yeah, too much of sense of self."
"Thank you," Quinn said to both Santana and Judy.
"No, thank you," Judy said smilingly.
"For what?"
"For not turning out to be me or your father."
Quinn took a deep breath, "That hasn't been proven yet."
Judy shrugged, "I know you will not end up like me or your father because if you have your father's will, you have my hair and my brain. You're smart, Quinn. I know you'll know what to do when you need to do it."
"And," Santana interrupted as she reached out to Quinn's hand and clasped it. "You have me." Santana met Quinn's eyes and then added, "Always."
o-o-o-o-o
Rachel sat across Puck, Sam and Finn that night inside a restaurant in Times Square.
Three men looked comfortable eating the stuff Rachel ordered for them but considering how loud they usually are under normal circumstances, she knew that the guys were just waiting for her to say something.
She called them last night and insisted on an urgent dinner together to discuss something. Finn didn't have a problem with schedule since he wasn't so busy, Sam just had to cancel a radio guesting and Puck just had to call in sick for the night. Rachel paid for Finn and Sam's flights from and back to Ohio as well as Puck's bus fare from and back to Boston.
She didn't know why she was doing this anyway but if she was really going to propose to Quinn, she's gonna need to talk to three of the people who knew Quinn in almost the same level as she knows her.
"Rach, what's going on?" Finn asked.
Sam and Puck looked at Rachel as if asking the same question.
How will she tell them that she wants to propose to their ex-girlfriend?
Rachel sighed as she said, "I'm letting you in on a secret. Promise me two things."
The three men nodded.
"One, don't laugh."
They, again, nodded.
"And two, don't freak out."
"We're dudes, Rach. We don't squeal," Puck said smilingly.
Rachel rolled her eyes, "Okay."
She took a deep breath as she looked at the three of them. Then, she began, "We all know that Quinn and I have been in relationship for a year now and that we've had this thing going on between us since high school, right?"
They just nodded in unison.
"If you're going to ask, Quinn and I have been doing well for the past year, great actually. And since I have taken the dominating role in our relationship… I came to the realization that I am ready to settle down with her."
Puck's jaw dropped as Sam's eyes grew wide and Finn was just clueless.
"What was that?" Finn asked.
"I am planning to ask Quinn to marry me."
If it was possible, Puck's jaw dropped even more and Sam's eyes grew wider. It was only then that Finn had some sort of reaction – he had both Sam and Puck's reaction.
"Holy mother of shit," Puck uttered.
"Noah! Language," Rachel managed.
"Wow, Rachel. That's nice," Sam said. "I mean, you and Quinn are perfect for each other. When are you planning to ask her?"
"W – wait," Puck called even before Rachel could say something. "Why now?"
Rachel couldn't help but feel a bit scared at how protective Puck's voice sounded. She never heard him use this tone before. He sounded like a brother talking to guy who was planning to take her younger sister to a first date out of town.
She knew Puck supported her relationship with Quinn even though somewhere in his heart, he still hoped they could raise Beth together as one family.
"Are you sure about that?" Finn asked.
Rachel turned to him and she knew that it was a bad idea to gather all three of Quinn's relevant exes and tell them about her plan. Sam, of course, was supportive. Puck is completely protective of Quinn while Finn was protective… of her.
"Look, I called the three of you because I am aware that you mean a lot to Quinn. Finn, you're her first love. Sam, you're practically the first person in Quinn's life that didn't love her for her social status and Puck, we all know the bond you share with her isn't something in the past. It's always going to be there," she said as she swallowed. "I know how much you all mean to Quinn and I respect that that's why I called you. I want to tell you about it because this is Quinn we are talking about and I want to hear your opinions about it."
"It's cool, Rachel. I think Quinn will say yes," Sam offered as he smiled. He's really charming and Rachel now stopped wondering why Quinn was so fond of him once in her life.
"Thank you, Sam," Rachel smiled. "I'm planning to propose on the weekend and if ever she says yes, I'll keep you all posted for the date of the wedding."
"That's awesome," Sam said. "Just take care of Quinn, Rachel. I mean, I know I cheated on her with Santana but there's a reason I gave her a promise ring back in the day. She's so much more than the girl who acts tough outside and when she trusts you, she shows you a side of her that not everyone has the privilege to see and that is something that made me want to be with her."
Rachel nodded because everything that Sam said was right. "Do you ever regret letting her go?"
"Honestly, yes, sometimes; when I think about it. Quinn is an amazing person. She's the type of girl who you'll love not for the obvious reasons but for the little ones."
Rachel smiled bashfully, "Like when she stomps her foot!"
Sam laughed, "Yeah! That and when she sings, too."
Finn laughed, "Oh God. I remember when she sang during our 'Rumors' lesson. She was so mad and I was so scared."
Sam, Finn and Rachel laughed at the memory.
"I also adore it when Quinn would be mad at you and yell at you, yet all she wants is for you to say sorry and mean it," Sam said as he smiled warmly at Rachel. "Out of everything that Quinn is, I like her most when she's leaning her head on my shoulder. Those little moments are the best moments."
Rachel smiled at Sam. She chuckled, "It's amazing when Quinn actually makes you feel like she needs you. It makes you feel like you're a superhero or something."
"Take care of her, Rachel."
"I will, Sam. Thank you."
"Noah?"
For some reason, Puck just looked at her.
"I know that you and Quinn have a history that even I cannot erase. No matter how much the both of you try to deny it, you're special to one another in more ways than one."
Puck nodded, "Quinn is special to me. She's the mother of my daughter."
Rachel nodded.
"Look, Jew babe. I support you all the way but I need to know that you're in this a hundred and ten percent because Quinn had been through so much in her life. I don't think she could ever handle losing you."
Puck said it casually as if it was an everyday thing. Rachel never thought that the day will come that she'll hear Noah Puckerman talk like this.
"I'm in this Noah. I love her and I want to spend the rest of my life with her."
Puck sighed as he leaned his back on the chair, "I love Quinn, okay? She will always be special to me."
"I know."
"And I am saying this right here, Jew babe. If you hurt her, I'm gonna haunt you," Puck said as he smiled.
Rachel smiled, "If I hurt her, I'm gonna come to you and ask you to kill me."
"There are so many people in Quinn's life that broke their promises to her. Do what most of us didn't have the courage to do – hold on to Quinn, no matter what."
Rachel nodded and she was sure that the glow in Puck's eyes was caused by tears he didn't want to show her.
"And give Beth a nicer sister!"
All of them laughed.
"Shelby told me that Beth is growing so much like Quinn; looks like attitude is hereditary after all," Rachel said as they all laughed again.
"You both have my back, Rach," Puck said as he smiled and squeezed Rachel's hand.
"You have my support, too Rachel but can I ask you again if you're sure about this?" asked Finn as all of them turned to him.
"Yes, Finn. I am certain."
He smiled his lopsided smile as he said, "Quinn could be scary sometimes."
Sam chuckled, "And moody."
"Not to mention she's very high-maintenance," Puck added.
Rachel chuckled, "Oh my Barbra! I agree."
"She's also very possessive," Puck said again.
Sam nodded, "She could be a lot jealous sometimes."
"And she's so wise that she could turn every fight in her favor. I mean, every time we fought, she always had something to say that would make her right and make me look bad," Finn added.
"I hate her when she doesn't speak when she's mad. She will just stop talking to you, like completely," Sam said laughingly.
"I know!" Rachel said. "That is so scary."
"Are you sure you want to marry that Quinn?" Puck asked.
Rachel smiled at him as she nodded, "Yes."
"Even the scary Quinn?" Sam asked.
Rachel nodded smilingly, "Even the scary Quinn."
"The moody Quinn?"
Rachel nodded.
"HBIC Quinn?"
Rachel nodded, "Cheerio Quinn will always have a special place in my heart."
Puck chuckled, "I know, right. That Cheerio skirt was just –"
"Noah!"
All three men laughed.
"Admit it, Rachel!" Finn said as he leaned closer to Rachel. He then whispered, "Those skirts were kinda inviting."
The horror on Rachel's face was an understatement.
Sam shook her head smilingly, "It wasn't the status that made Quinn popular! It's her legs!"
Rachel flushed red in an instant.
"This is the reason why I ended up liking girls! You guys are such pervs!"
Puck laughed teasing Rachel, "Come on. You're talking to Quinn's first!"
Rachel grabbed a table napkin and hurled it toward Puck who caught it with his hand.
"Enough on the dude talks!"
Puck, Sam and Finn just laughed.
"But seriously, Rachel; are you willing to put up with Quinn no matter what?" Finn asked. "Because really, it's not going to be easy."
"Thank you for the concern, Finn but yes, I am sure about this. I love Quinn and I know that it will be enough."
Finn just smiled as Sam just nodded and Puck looked calm and supportive, too. Rachel knew she has their backs.
She smiled mischievously and leaned closer to the three guys whispering, "And I admit, those Cheerio skirts were sinful!"
The other three laughed as Puck hurled the napkin back on to Rachel's face.
It had been an awesome night with Quinn's exes and suddenly, Rachel Berry had a plan.
o-o-o-o-o
"You sure about this?" Santana as she adjusted uncomfortably in her seat across Quinn who was driving to their last stop before flying back to New York.
Quinn just nodded and took a deep breath.
"Why didn't you take Judy with you?"
"I need to do this alone."
"Uh, I'm here Q," Santana said sarcastically.
"I need you to punch him if he goes psycho on me."
Santana nodded, "I have long wanted to do that."
Quinn laughed just as she pulled over the parking lot of Day-Mont Behavioral Health Care in Dayton.
She looked at Santana and her best friend only gave her an encouraging look.
"I'll be here when you need me," Santana said.
Quinn nodded as Santana just smiled, "It won't take long."
"Better not."
That and Quinn hopped off the car and walked inside the rehabilitation center nervously fiddling the hem of her shirt.
It's the first time in years that she's gonna face him and she didn't know what to expect.
She took a deep breath as she approached the information desk. The middle aged woman looked up to her as she smiled and said, "Hi. I'm Quinn Fabray. I called yesterday and scheduled a visit for my father."
She cringed at the last word she said and for a moment fought the urge to run back to her car and not face her father anymore.
The woman smiled as she started typing on the computer in front of her, "He hasn't had a visitor in months."
Quinn chose to say nothing at that moment because frankly, she didn't know what to say.
"Are you planning to stay long? I can arrange a table for you at our deck."
Quinn shook her head, "No. I'm just here to tell him something."
"Oh," the woman said. "I see you traveled all the way from New York, must be big news, huh."
"Yeah, kind of."
"Well, good luck on talking to him and if you're interested to know, he's getting better," the woman smiled so genuinely that Quinn almost believed that she cared for her father's condition. "Room 12, the room at the end of that hall," she said.
"Thank you," Quinn said as she started walking towards the said direction.
"Your father talks highly of you," the woman said and Quinn had to fight the tears that instantly welled in her eyes.
She walked slowly until she stood in front of Room 12. She took a deep breath and then knocked gently.
While waiting for her father to get the door, she turned her attention back to the lobby just in time to see Santana walking in with that encouraging look on her face and Quinn felt a little braver.
I can do this.
And then, just as she finished that train of thought, the door opened and it revealed someone she never expected to see: Russell Fabray clad in plain white shirt and a pair of khaki shorts.
Their eyes met for a couple of seconds until Russell managed a sad smile.
"Quinn."
"Dad."
It still hurt whenever she addressed him "Dad" but she couldn't bring herself up to call him by his name because he still wanted to hold on to her father that once put her in his shoulders and spun her around because he loved her.
"They told me you were coming. Please, come in," he said as he stepped aside to let Quinn in.
Quinn sighed as she stepped inside her father's rehabilitation room.
It was small and under normal circumstances, Russell would hate a room as small as that. It only has a bed, a couch, a night stand, a cabinet, and a set of chairs and table by the window. There were books on top of the table and there's one that's been opened with a pair of reading glasses resting on top of it.
"Are you staying? I can call the nurses and get you something to eat –"
"I'm not staying."
Russell opened his mouth to speak but no words came out.
"I'm just here to say something that would take less than five minutes. I need to get back to New York."
Russell sighed audibly.
Quinn turned to her father and took a few seconds to examine the way he looked at that moment. His hair was a bit disheveled and he looked thinner that the time she last saw her in high school but he looked healthy. Quinn could admit that he looked softer now and he never looked like a normal human being that he did at that moment. No pretentions – it was just her and her father, not the person that kicked Quinn out a few years ago.
"You know Rachel, right? Mom told me she told you about us."
Russell just nodded.
Quinn hated that he was so calm; that his nod didn't have malice or judgment.
"I'm proposing to her."
Russell seemed to process the information for a few seconds until he smiled.
Again, Quinn nearly rolled her eyes at the lack of Fabray-ness in it. He was supposed to be mad and he should be kicking her out after what she said but he didn't.
Russell then made his way to the table by the window and dug under the pile of books until he pulled out a number of magazines. He lifted them up and showed them to Quinn, "I have been reading nice things about her."
Quinn sighed as tears, again, welled in her eyes. "She an amazing person," she said shakily.
Russell looked at her and it's the kind of look that Quinn longed for her entire life. The kind of look that supported her decisions, the kind of look that a father should give her daughter at the toughest time of her life – the kind of look that he never gave her when she needed it the most.
"I hope you'll keep our last name."
That was all it took to make Quinn's tears fall. She looked at him and he looked back at her with a genuine smile on his face.
"You should be mad at me, Dad. She's a girl and it's violates the rules of your church."
Russell looked guilty for a fraction of second until he just sat on one of the chairs by the table and placed the magazines back on the table.
"I can't judge you when I'm the one in this rehabilitation center trying to steer away from alcohol abuse."
Quinn didn't have words. Coming here, all the speech she prepared was for a furious Russell Fabray. She was caught off guard by the way he seemed to be okay with the impending proposal.
"I'm proud of you, Quinn."
Her tears fell more rapidly because never, in a lifetime, did she expect to hear that from her father.
"I am not sorry for everything I did to you and our family," he said as he looked out the window. "You, the version of you that's standing inside this very room wouldn't have happened if it weren't for my mistakes as a father."
"When are you coming out of here?"
"In two months time," Russell said with a sigh of relief. "My nurses are all happy with my progress."
"That's nice."
"I have signed the divorce papers last year but your mom hasn't turned them to our lawyers."
"She still believes in you."
Russell nodded as tears fell from his yes. He quickly wiped it off and Quinn nearly laughed at how Fabray the gesture was.
"I don't deserve her."
"For a moment before, I thought you didn't deserve anybody."
Russell nodded, "I have lived in this room for a year now and all I did was believe that."
Quinn sighed.
"I love Rachel."
"I know. You'll never come here if you didn't lover her enough to tell me about it."
Quinn just nodded and again, sighed audibly.
"I love you, Quinn."
It was the one thing that Quinn wanted to hear from him.
Quinn's tears fell again because she didn't just wish for her father to be proud of who she chose to be; she wished he could love her despite everything she went through and despite everything she's planning to do.
"I love you, Frannie and your mom. I guess I just didn't know how to show it."
"Everyday she makes me a better person, a far cry from the person that I used to be. She taught me how to trust and how not to keep blaming myself about the things I did in the past," she said amidst her tears. "I want to marry her because she's the one that kept me from becoming you."
Russell nodded.
"She taught me how to give people second chances."
Russell looked at her with hope in his eyes.
Quinn took a deep breath as she closed her eyes to gather the strength she didn't know she had, "If she says yes..." she opened her eyes and met Russell's, "will you be there? At the wedding?"
Russell smiled as tears streamed down his face, "Yes, Quinn. I will be honored to be there."
Quinn smiled as she rushed to her father's side and hugged him.
Quinn felt somewhat complete because finally, she was getting the chance to get her father back.
She wanted him to be there because she knew that Rachel would want the wedding to be perfect and she would want him to be there.
Quinn didn't expect him to be the changed man that he already was at that moment. She knew that of Russell didn't want to be in the wedding, she would be losing him forever. But she didn't.
She was finally getting a second chance with her father and it felt good.
After a few seconds of sobbing and hugging, Quinn looked up to her father, "I haven't forgiven you completely but I'm giving you the chance to be part of my life again."
Russell nodded and didn't say anything.
Quinn then made it out of his room saw Santana pacing in the lobby.
When she saw Quinn, she immediately studied her and when she saw that Quinn had tears in her eyes, she made her way to her and hugged her without saying anything.
"I did it, San."
Santana just nodded.
"I did it."
"Yes, Q. You did it."
Quinn just smiled as she buried her face onto the Latina's shoulder.
"All for the hobbit," Santana teased and Quinn just playfully swatted Santana's arm.
"I'm proud of you, Q."
After minutes of silent embrace, Santana and Quinn talked to Russell's nurse and figured out that he has been responding well to therapy and even agrees on many community volunteer activities.
The nurse briefly talked about how he always talked about her UCLA graduate daughter and his lovely grandchildren living in Springfield with his eldest daughter. She also mentioned a lot about missing his wife and it made Quinn's heart soar with some sort of pride when the nurse said that he talked about letting his wife go if that meant she could be happier with someone else.
She never believed that Russell could change like that and it somehow saddened Quinn that she never got to know this version of her father. But at the end of the day, she felt relieved because at least, her future children with Rachel are all gonna love their grandfather.
Her eyes were still glimmering with tears as she and Santana walked back to their car.
"You okay, Q-ball?"
Quinn smiled, "I missed you calling me that."
"I only call you that when you're being such a cry baby," Santana said rolling her eyes. "You didn't answer my question."
Quinn smiled, "I'm fine. I'm just overwhelmed."
Santana just shrugged getting the gist of how Quinn was feeling at the moment.
"I'm so happy. I feel as if my life is coming together."
Santana rolled her eyes, again, "All for the hobbit."
"Santana!"
Santana laughed, "You know that I'm gonna call her that for the rest of our fucking lives, right?"
Quinn rolled her eyes, "Yeah. I got used to it."
Santana chuckled, "Good."
As they reached the car, Santana dug for the keys in her pocket. "Ready to go?" she asked.
"Wait, I…" Quinn said as she fished for her phone. "I just have to call Rachel."
Santana looked at Quinn smilingly as she nodded, "Go tell your girl how happy you are right now."
Quinn smiled as she stepped a little further away from Santana and then checked her phone. She immediately saw 16 missed calls and 7 messages from Rachel. She then hit speed dial. It only took around three rings for Rachel to pick up.
"Baby? I haven't seen you all day and you're not picking up my calls. I called your office and they said you're on leave. Where are you? If it wasn't for your text that you'd be with Santana today, I'll be dead worried about you," Rachel immediately blurted out.
Quinn took a deep breath and smiled contentedly, "I love you, Rachel."
There was silence at the other end of the line for a few seconds. Quinn could tell that Rachel was surprised about her response.
"I love you, too, Quinn. But is there something wrong? You sound like you just cried."
Quinn smiled again because really, Rachel was just being too adorable.
"Will you stop being so perfect?"
Rachel chuckled, "You know I tried too many times."
Quinn laughed.
"But seriously Quinn, where are you? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. I just called to say I love you."
It may seem like a line from a song but Quinn meant it. Right at that moment, when she's standing in the middle of the parking lot of her father's rehab center and after she just talked to the man that gave life to her, she felt how much she really loves Rachel. She realized how much she wants Rachel to be part of that life for the rest of it.
Quinn never meant those words as much as she meant it at that moment. True, she said it a thousand times to Rachel but it is in that simple moment that she felt as if it was forever; as if she wasn't going to let her go.
There was silence on the other end of the line again and Quinn could tell, based on the way Rachel was breathing, that she was touched at what she just said.
"I'm not gonna let you go, Rachel."
Rachel choked a sob, "Quinn… I… -"
"I love you more than anything else in the world."
Quinn heard Rachel release a breath in a dramatic Rachel Berry fashion. Rachel then said, "You're making me cry, you know."
Quinn laughed, "I'm in Lima."
"What? Why? What are you –"
"I talked to him."
"Who?"
"Dad."
Silence.
Quinn knew she surprised Rachel.
"I told him about us and I told him how amazing you are."
"I… Wow. Quinn, that's –"
"Rachel, I love you. I wanted him to know that."
"What… What did he say?"
Quinn smiled, "He looks forward to meeting you."
Quinn was sure she heard Rachel let out a sob. "Oh my God."
"You're Jewish."
"Way to joke about my religion, Quinn! I'm still taking all of this information in. It's –"
"Amazing."
"Yes."
Quinn felt Rachel's smile at that.
"I wish I was there with you."
"I needed to do it by myself."
"Come home now and tell me about all of it!" Rachel said in pure excitement.
"Santana and I are driving to the airport in a bit. I can't wait to see you."
"Me, too. I love you, Quinn, really. And I'm proud of you."
Quinn just smiled.
"Wait! When is he coming here? In New York, I mean?"
Quinn smirked mischievously, "Soon and it depends."
"Depends on what?"
"I'll tell you about it when I get home."
"You are killing me with anticipation."
"You have no idea how I'm dying to tell you all of it."
"Quinn?"
"Hmmm…"
"I love you."
"I love you, Rach."
That and they hung up.
Many times in one's life, a moment snaps in you. It would feel so final and so life-changing that suddenly, the future will spread out in front of you. Suddenly, you're sure about what you want; of who you want.
It was in that moment that Quinn Fabray became sure that she wanted Rachel to say yes to her when she asks the question.
It was when Quinn Fabray felt like she finally deserved Rachel Berry. Quinn didn't have any grudges or unnecessary baggage with her anymore. There's only her certainty that Rachel is the one.
If you know what it's like to love someone so much that you can't picture a life without them, don't let them go.
Quinn smiled as Brittany's words echoed inside her head.
Yes, she knows what it's like and once she lands back to New York, she isn't gonna let Rachel go.
Not ever.
Someone told me that this went too fast. But I don't think so, there are still going to be stages, as I have repeatedly said. But yeah, I kind of skipped parts. That chapter was kinda long...
I must admit, I find this chapter highly emotional. I just had to take that route on Q's family because it's necessary. : )
For the next chapter: Someone's gonna propose for real. Who would it be?
