"Are you crying?" Connor whispered to her as they watched Beth on stage.
"Shut up you're crying" She said elbowing him as she wiped her eyes.
Beth lit up the stage. She was such a beautiful dancer and her voice was angelic. Quinn knew she might be a little biased, but Beth really was talented.
The children had taken a number of scenes from shows and Disney.
"She's amazing" He told her setting her off tearing up again.
They had taken a bouquet of roses backstage after the show.
"Quinn you came" Beth exclaimed running and throwing her arms around her.
"Of course, I did" She replied hugging her back "You were wonderful"
"Nice show kid" Connor told her ruffling her hair.
Beth swatted his hand away but gave him a hug.
"He embarrasses me too" Quinn fake whispered.
"Did your boyfriend come?" Beth asked.
"He had to work" Quinn shrugged "And who said he was my boyfriend?"
Beth pointed at Connor.
"Big mouth" She sighed.
Quinn was a little disappointed that she didn't get to see much of Beth, but she had at least gotten to see her show. Beth was having a sleepover with some friends. Rachel had been texting her all day to make sure they were still going to dinner.
Connor had tried to excuse himself to go and spend the night at the hotel, but she wasn't going to let him off that easy. They made their way to some restaurant Blaine had recommended. She was sure Blaine and Kurt had the same taste in restaurants as Connor so at least they would have that in common.
Seeing her three friends sat at the table was like going back in time. Rachel was the first to jump up to her hug her.
"Quinn I've missed you so much" Rachel told her lighting up.
"I missed you too" She told her squeezing her hand "I always knew you'd make it big"
"Says the doctor" Kurt.
"It's not a tony" She laughed "This is my brother Connor, Connor these are my dear dear friends, Rachel, Kurt and Blaine"
"It's nice to meet you all" Connor said taking a seat "Quinn told me a lot about you"
"So, what's it like being Quinn Fabray's brother?" Kurt asked "Scary?"
"Why would it be scary?" He laughed "She's a pain in the ass sometimes"
"She was the second most intimidating girl in high school" Kurt replied.
"Second to Santana" She scoffed.
"Is that a competition you want to win?" Blaine asked.
"I guess not" She replied "I just think we were equally matched"
"I just can't believe you're a doctor now" Rachel told her "You always were the smartest person in our class"
Kurt and Blaine told her all about the music classes they were running. Rachel told her about her engagement to Jesse. Everyone had done so much since high school. It was nice to reminisce about old times.
Connor had excused himself to go to the washroom. Kurt leaned about the table.
"So, you and the stepbrother?" He asked.
"Kurt that is the grossest thing I've ever heard" She replied pulling a face.
"He's a hot stepbrother" Blaine nodded.
Quinn narrowed her eyes at them.
"He is cute" Rachel admitted "But I want to hear all about Chicago"
Quinn told her all about bumping back into Jay. She had told Rachel about her summer romance when they had become friends in senior year. She told her all about her new friends, the hospital. About Biff. Rachel had been one of the people who had made her feel brave enough to leave and realize her worth.
"So, you know it's an open mic night" Rachel said with a smile.
"Seriously?" She asked raising an eyebrow "Is that why you picked this place?"
"We were apart of something special" Rachel replied "I know you miss it"
"I don't think I've sang since that homecoming back in lima when I was still an undergrad" She laughed.
"Not even a karaoke night?" Kurt asked "That's a crime"
"You know I won't stop until you get up there with me" Rachel told her.
Quinn knew she was right. Rachel was the type who could convince you to do anything even if she had to resort to talking your ear off. She was like the energizer bunny and never had to stop for breath.
"I'm not doing a mash up" She replied.
"Fine" Rachel huffed.
"I'm surprised you give performances off Broadway these days" She teased.
"Any time is a time to shine" Rachel replied.
Quinn couldn't help but feel like it was nice how some things never changed. Blaine took a seat at the piano and Rachel dragged her up to the mic. She recognized the song instantly. It was one of her favorites.
Quinn smiled as she started. It had been so long since she had performed.
I know there's pain
Why do you lock yourself up in these chains?
No one can change your life except for you
Don't ever let anyone step all over you
Rachel joined in at the chorus. She knew Rachel was amazing, but she had forgotten just how good she was. She lit up the room when she sang. Her love for music was infectious. She also knew that Hold on was a special song to her.
Some day somebody's gonna make you want to
Turn around and say goodbye
Until then baby are you going to let them
Hold you down and make you cry
Don't you know?
Don't you know things can change
Things'll go your way
If you hold on for one more day
"I didn't know you were a Wilson Phillips fan?" Connor asked as she sat back down.
"Were you filming that?" She asked as he put his phone away.
"Maybe" He shrugged "You were really good"
"I'm ok" She replied "Rachel's the performer"
"You don't wish you'd stuck with drama or music?" He asked
"And miss being covered in blood and vomit every day?" She asked "Of course not"
Singing and dancing were a hobby. It was nice to be with her friends and relive it a little, but her life was Chicago now. At one time she may have envied her friends in New York. It was where she had imagined her future even as a doctor. But not now. She could still visit Beth, but Chicago was home.
"So, we have a question" Blaine said as Quinn was getting ready to leave "And we've been nervous about it"
"What is it?" She asked.
"Rachel has agreed to be our surrogate" Kurt said.
"That's amazing" She said taking their hands "You'll be amazing parents"
"Thank you" Blaine replied.
"I don't know if you remember, and I'm sure you weren't serious but you…" Kurt started.
"I'd be honored" She said cutting him off "You are asking my to donate an egg, right?"
She took the arms being thrown around her as a yes.
"You want her genes?" Connor asked.
"Have you seen this face?" She asked posing.
"Beauty and brains" Rachel said.
"Ok enough" She said "You're making me blush"
Quinn wished she could have spent more time with everyone, but she was excited to go home. She hoped Jay would be around when she got there. Beth and her friends had stopped her from obsessively checking her phone all day. But now that she was alone in her hotel room it was all she could think about.
When she got home the next day a red head was leaving her apartment in what was clearly the dress from the night before.
"Good night Lieutenant?" She asked setting her case by the door.
"It was interesting" He smirked as Quinn shut the door "How was New York?"
"Amazing" She sighed throwing herself back onto the couch "But it's good to be home"
"What did you get up to?" He asked.
"I have a daughter Beth, she was adopted but I still keep in touch" She explained biting the bullet "She had a recital she wanted me to come to, and then I caught up with some friends from high school"
"That's great" He told her.
Quinn was worried about judgmental looks or questioning but Kelly wasn't like that. She told him a bit about it, he told her about his Dad and the sister he had found out about it.
"Still no word from Jay?" He asked as she checked her phone again.
"Nope" She sighed "It's only been two days though; I knew it would be awhile"
"We could go to Molly's" He suggested.
"Maybe" She replied biting her lip.
"Or we could go out somewhere else" He shrugged "You can be my wing woman"
"Not seeing the Red Head again?" She asked.
"She's not really my type" He replied with a half-smile.
"You have one?" She laughed.
"I do" He told her "I'm just not great at relationships"
"Sylvie said she's out tonight with some nurses from med" She replied "I guess we could go out, invite some of your friends"
"Nurses" He said thoughtfully.
"Please do not break any hearts" She warned them "If the nurses turn against me my life won't be worth living at work, they're the backbone of everything"
"No work friends" He agreed.
They met Sylvie down at Molly's. Kelly went to see his friends from 51. Quinn gratefully accepted the glass of wine Gabby handed to her.
"You're off next Friday, right?" Gabby asked her.
"Yes" She replied cautiously "Why?"
"Cindy has to run a lot of errands and she normally watches Louie while I'm on shift" Gabby told her.
"Yes, I would love to spend the day with Louie" She said.
"You are a lifesaver" Gabby sighed.
"It's in the job description" She said with a smirk.
"That was way too cheesy even for you" Gabby told her.
"What do you mean even for me?" She asked.
"I saw your little Broadway debut" Gabby laughed.
"Was it Connor?" She asked.
"Oh no you're online" Gabby said handing over her phone.
"What's that?" Kelly asked grabbing the phone "Broadway superstar Rachel Berry gives impromptu performance with blonde friend"
"Press play" Sylvie said excitedly.
"Are you sure you can hang around with us non award winners?" Gabby teased.
"I'm sure" She said grabbing the phone back.
"Connor already sent a video round the hospital" Gabby told her.
Quinn made a mental note to murder Connor next time she saw him. Sylvie was excited to go out. She had been dating Gabby's brother, but they had called things off. Quinn thought someone else's love life would be a welcome distraction from her own.
"You know I could set you up with a cute doctor" She told her when they were headed to a club downtown.
"So, you'll set Brett up but not me?" Kelly asked.
"Sylvie doesn't have your reputation" She replied.
"I just want to have fun tonight" Sylvie told her "But I might take you up on that when I'm ready"
The club was loud. Sylvie was straight on the dance floor with some of the nurses she'd invited out. Kelly went with Quinn to the bar.
"You've had eye sex with at least five women so far" She told him.
"What the hell is eye sex" He laughed.
Quinn just shook her head scanning the room. Some guy was dancing with Sylvie, but she looked happy enough. And then she spotted Jay with some girl sat on his lap.
"Is that?" Kelly asked.
"Yeah" She replied.
"Do you wanna leave?" He asked.
Jay caught Quinn's eye and quickly looked away.
"Yeah I do" She replied.
"I'll tell Sylvie" He said resting a hand on her shoulder.
"You don't have to leave" She told him.
"I'm not in the mood for eye sex" He shrugged but she wasn't in the mood to smile.
