Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who had read the last chapter. I want to apologize that this chapter took longer for me to write. I was busy spending time with family the last couple of weeks. Hope you enjoy this chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own Glee or On the Wings of Love.

Chapter 12: Truth and Guilt

August 10, 2017

Her dads were in New York right now. They flew all the way there to surprise her. They were waiting for her at Kurt's apartment. Her old apartment. They didn't know that she moved out. They had no idea about her marriage to Quinn. They didn't know about anything that was going on.

Fuck.

How was she supposed to lie to them now? She wasn't the worst liar, but it was much easier to lie to her dads over the phone. At least she didn't have to look at them in the eyes when she lied.

She got off the elevator and nervously made her way to Kurt's apartment. This was it.

It's okay. You got this! Just think of this like any other role.

She took off her wedding ring and her engagement ring and put them inside her purse. She then hid her Quinn necklace under her shirt. She raised her right hand and knocked on the door.

A few moments later, the door opened and revealed a very stressed Kurt Hummel.

"Thank goodness you're here," Kurt blurted out as he pulled his best friend inside the apartment. "I didn't know how long I can keep distracting them."

"Have they've been asking a lot of questions?" Rachel whispered.

"They asked if you heard back from any auditions," Kurt quietly replied. "And they asked about how Blaine and I are doing. I couldn't tell them that Blaine and I are moving in together because they're going to ask about where you're going to live."

"Thank you so much, Kurt."

"Don't mention it."

"Is that our baby girl?" Hiram Berry excitedly asked.

Rachel playfully rolled her eyes, "Dad, you know it's me."

"Baby girl!" Leroy Berry exclaimed has he and Hiram hugged their daughter.

"We missed you so much!"

"I missed you guys too," Rachel said as she returned her dads embrace. Even though she was worried that her dads might figure out her secret, she was still happy to see them."What are you two doing in New York?"

"Well, I told your Dad how you couldn't visit us back home," Leroy explained, "he then suggested that we fly down here for a couple of days to surprise you!"

"Daddy, that must have been expensive!"

"Baby girl, don't worry," Hiram assured his daughter. "Your Daddy and I have a lot of travel points saved up, so it didn't cost much. Besides, we just missed our baby!"

"I wish you could have told me you and Daddy were planning to visit me. I could have asked for time off at work."

"Your Dad and I wanted to surprise you," Leroy chuckled, "if we told you, there would be no surprise."

"Anyways, how about we go out for dinner?" Hiram suggested. "It looks like our baby girl just got out of work. You must be hungry."

"Terrific idea, Hiram!" Leroy agreed. He turned towards Kurt's direction. "Kurt, please join us."

"Yes, Kurt," Rachel pleaded her best friend, "please join us." She didn't know how long she could keep up this lie in front of her dads. She needed Kurt's help just in case she contradicted herself.

"I would be happy to join you all for dinner."

"Great!" Leroy beamed. "We could go to that Italian place you love so much, baby girl."

"Make sure one of you two bring your keys to the apartment," Hiram reminded the two best friends. "Baby girl, you forgot your keys today, didn't you?"

Rachel tilted her head to the side, "what do you mean, Dad?"

"Kurt opened the door for you," Hiram pointed out. "I assumed that you forgot your keys today. Otherwise, it would be strange for you to knock on your apartment door."

Rachel's eyes widen, "Y-yes! I forgot my keys this morning!"

"She was in a rush," Kurt quickly added, "her boss abruptly called her to cover her co-worker's shift."

"That solves that mystery. Why don't we start heading to the restaurant?" Rachel eagerly asked in order to change the topic of the conversation.

"Great idea, Rach!" Kurt exclaimed. "Should we all head downstairs and hail a cab?"

"Let's go, everyone! Dinner awaits!"

"So how is everyone's food?" Leroy asked.

"The chicken cacciatore is to die for!" Hiram gushed. "Does anyone want to try a piece?"

"I would love to try some," Leroy replied.

Hiram cut a piece of chicken cacciatore. He leaned over and fed his husband the piece of chicken. Rachel smiled warmly at the exchange of affection.

"That chicken cacciatore is just exquisite!"

"Kurt, do you want to try some?"

"I'm fine, Hiram, but thank you for the offer."

"So, besides the auditions, how's the New York life treating you, baby girl?" Leroy asked.

"I'm doing okay, Daddy."

"Anything new in the love department?" Hiram wondered, "you haven't dated anyone in awhile."

"No, I'm not seeing anyone." She took a sip of wine. That wasn't really a lie. She wasn't seeing or dating anyone. Yes, she was married to Quinn, but that didn't count since it was just a green card marriage.

"Rachel doesn't have time to date since she's focusing on her Broadway career. Isn't that right, Rach?"

"Yes, um, Kurt's right!" Rachel exclaimed. "I'm just trying to book my first starring role."

"Smart decision, baby girl," Leroy commended his daughter. "Remember, there's nothing wrong with putting yourself first."

"Leroy is right," Hiram said in support of his husband. "Besides, love will come when you least expect it."

"That's so true, Hiram," Kurt agreed. "Just look at me and Blaine. I tried so hard to meet someone, but all the guys I dated were so wrong. When I stopped dating and lived my life, I met Blaine and the rest was history," he grinned.

"Speaking of Blaine," Hiram began, "we would love to have dinner with him during our short visit here."

"How long are you staying her, Dad?"

"Just four days, baby girl," Hiram answered his daughter.

Four days.

Four days wasn't that long. She could keep up this lie in front of her dads for four days, but the guilt was killing her. It was getting so difficult to lie to them.

"Okay, I'll ask Blaine and let him know."

"Wonderful!"

"Baby girl," Leroy called for Rachel's attention.

"Yes, Daddy?"

"You had a student visa when you were still attending NYADA, right?"

Rachel bit her bottom lip. "Yes, um, why are you asking about my student visa, Daddy?"

"We've been reading about the new administration and the immigration situation here," Leroy explained. "Your Dad and I are just worried if you are going to be affected by this. Your visa isn't expired yet, right?"

The brunette started to nervously tap her foot under the table. "Um…" She turned to Kurt, silently asking him for help.

"Rachel, didn't you extend your visa a couple of weeks ago?" Kurt interjected.

Rachel nodded her head profusely, "Yes, I did."

"That's wonderful then!" Hiram beamed. "Your Daddy and I don't have to worry about that anymore."

"Dad and Daddy, what are you planning to do during your visit here?" Rachel asked, changing the topic.

Hiram smiled, "We are going to spend time with our baby girl, and I think we might visit the old bar that Leroy and I went to during our first visit to New York."

"Since we are in New York, we are definitely catching a show!" Leroy exclaimed.

"Sounds great, Dads! Just let me know when, so I could request a day off or trade shifts with somebody at the diner."

"Sure thing, baby girl."

"I am the worst daughter ever," Rachel wailed as she sunk further into her best friend's couch.

"Rach, don't be so dramatic." He sat next to her on the couch. "You are not the worst daughter. You're just a pretty bad one," he smirked.

"Kurt!" Rachel yelled as she playfully slapped Kurt on the shoulder.

"Rach, I was just kidding," he laughed. "I'm just trying to lighten up the mood."

"What am I going to do?" Rachel whined. "I don't know if I can keep lying to my dads. This guilt is torturing me."

"Well, there is one thing you can do to get rid of your guilt, and you know what that is…" Kurt trailed off.

Rachel whimpered, "I know. I have to tell them the truth." She released a defeated sigh, "I don't know if I can. They're going to be so furious with me."

Kurt put his arm around Rachel and comfortingly rubbed her shoulder. "I'm not going to sugarcoat things for you. As your best friend, I have a responsibility to tell you the truth." He turned his head to look directly at the brunette. "Yes, your dads are going to be furious if you tell them, but they are not going to stay mad forever. Like you, they are very forgiving."

"Why do you always know the right thing to say to me?"

"I'm older, so therefore I'm wiser," Kurt joked.

"You're only a couple of months older than me."

"A couple of months can make a difference," Kurt reminded her. "Anyways, are you going to stay the night or are you going back to Queens?"

"I'm going to head back to Queens."

Kurt removed his arm around Rachel's shoulders and got up from the couch. He walked over to the kitchen and grabbed the manila folder that was resting on top of the table. "In that case, you should take these photos with you."

Rachel rose from the couch and made her way to where Kurt was standing. "Are these wedding photos?" she asked while taking the manila folder from Kurt's hand.

"Yes," Kurt responded. "Even though you two hate each other, you two make a beautiful couple."

"Funny," Rachel chuckled, "Quinn said the same thing."

"Rach?"

"Yeah?"

"Whatever you decide to do, I'm right here to support you."

"Thank you, Kurt." She leaned in and hugged her best friend. "I don't know what I would do without you."

"Hey, you're home late," Quinn said as Rachel walked into the apartment.

"Yeah, I had an eventful day," Rachel lamented. "And you're up late too."

"I got assigned this article that requires a lot of research and investigation," Quinn informed her, "I want to get ahead on the research so I can start writing it." She closed her laptop. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"About what?"

"About your day," Quinn answered. "You sound like you need someone to talk to."

"You don't mind?" Rachel asked in a slight uncertain tone. She and Quinn were friends now, but she never vented to the blonde about her problems. Their conversations were just the usual small talk topics. This was uncharted territory.

"I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want to."

"Okay." She sat across from Quinn at the kitchen countertop. She took a deep breath. "Remember how I told you my dads wanted me to visit them back home?"

"Yeah."

"Well, they're in New York."

Quinn's eyes widen, "what?"

"Since I couldn't visit them, they thought it would be better if they visited me."

"So it was a total surprise then?"

Rachel nodded, "Don't get me wrong, I'm so happy to see my dads. I haven't seen them since I graduated from NYADA, but…"

"You feel guilty about lying to them about our green card marriage," Quinn finished Rachel's sentence.

"Yes," Rachel sighed, "my dads and I were always honest with each other. I always told them the truth. Well, not always. I told a few white lies when I was in high school…"

"Rachel."

"Sorry," the brunette apologized. "The point is that I never lied to them like this. I was honest with them and I told them everything."

"Are you thinking of telling them the truth?"

"I am," Rachel admitted. "I talked it over with Kurt. He told me that if I want this guilt to go away, I should tell them about our marriage." Her eyes were starting to glisten with tears. "I'm scared to tell them the truth because I know they are going to be so livid that I lied to them. I'm terrified that they won't forgive me."

"I don't know your dads," Quinn began, "but from what you told me, it looks like you have a good relationship with them."

"I do."

"They seem like loving and understanding parents," Quinn offered her thoughts, "yes, they are going to be angry with you if you decide to tell them the truth. But…"

"But?"

"I think your relationship with your dads is strong enough to get through this," Quinn sincerely smiled at Rachel. "They might not talk to you for awhile, but in the end, I'm sure they will forgive you for lying to them."

"You think so?" Rachel wiped her eyes.

"I do."

"And it's okay with you if I decide to tell my dads?"

"It's okay with me," Quinn paused before continuing, "since we are in the topic of telling our families about our arrangement, my sister knows about us."

"Frannie knows? How did she find out?"

"Brittany posted pictures of our wedding on Facebook and Frannie saw the pictures. She called me last week to confirm it. I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to tell you," Quinn clarified.

"That's okay. A lot of things happened last week."

Quinn gave her a half-smile, remembering their fight last week. "She said that she won't tell my mom."

"Oh, you don't want to tell your mom? I'm sorry if I'm overstepping," Rachel quickly apologized.

"No, it's okay," the blonde reassured her. "I would prefer that my mom doesn't know. She's very religious and conservative. Knowing her, she would probably have another heart attack if she finds out about our arrangement. It's best if she doesn't know."

"That makes a lot of sense."

"So, is there anything else you want to talk about?"

"No, I got everything off of my chest."

"All right. Well, I'm going to get ready for bed now. I have to be at work by 9 AM."

"Okay, and Quinn?"

"Yes?"

"I still don't know what I'm going to do, but thank you for listening and for what you said," Rachel thanked the blonde.

Quinn smiled at Rachel, "you're welcome."

Author's Note: What do you all think Rachel will do? I would love to hear your thoughts and predictions. As always, please leave and review/comment. Till next time!