Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to Glee or any of its characters.
A/N: Hello all my lovely reader. I know it has been way too long but I have had one hell of a month. I am back now and ready to continue on with my story. I hope everyone had wonderful holiday season from November to now, I know I did and I am refreshed and ready for a new year. My plan is to update all of my stories at least once a week from now on.
Thank you for being patient with me while waiting for this chapter. Lots of love to you all and tons of thank you for your continued support.
Chapter 59
It was Thursday night and they were all at the mall getting some warm weather clothing for their trip. Rachel was frustrated with the whole thing and wanted to go home.
"It's not our fault you didn't think to go shopping until two days before we leave sweetheart." Shelby bumped shoulders with her.
Rachel huffed. "I know mom but I also didn't know that everyone would decide we all needed full new summer wardrobes tonight. I just wanted to grab a few pairs of shorts."
Santana came over and wrapped her arms around her waist turning her toward the dressing room. "I know baby but look." She pointed toward Quinn as she exited the dressing room in a bikini and a sarong. "Isn't it all worth it to see that and know it's ours?"
Rachel groaned lightly nodding her head. "Yes," she said breathily.
San chuckled with a wink to Shelby and pulled Rachel toward Quinn.
Shelby just shook her head and turned to Sue. "I swear they will be the death of me yet."
Sue chuckled. "Maybe but we love them anyway." She moved in behind her and wrapped her arms around her waist and whispered into her ear. "Now, I'm waiting to see you try on one of these bikinis so I can insure that it is wave appropriate and it will… I mean won't fall off if a wave hits you too hard."
With a laugh Shelby slaps her arm and pulls away. "I bet you are. Too bad I already have a suit at home and won't be buying a new one today."
Sue pouts playfully and follows after her to the girls.
A few hours later they are sitting at the food court eating dinner. "Ok, does everyone have all that they need now?" Judy inquired as she sat back from her food.
They all nodded and Rachel sat back on a food induced sigh. "We're all set here. We just need to finish packing now. I have everything in my luggage except for what I bought today. It's in the back of the Land Rover."
Quinn put an arm around the back of Rachel's seat. "Me too, I'm all set except for the things we got today."
San just nodded her agreement. Judy smiled. "Ok then, that will make it easier with you staying at my house tonight and since we are leaving from my house Saturday for the airport."
Shelby sat forward. "All of Sue and my bags are ready and in the back as well. We were going to drop them with the girls tonight then spend the night tomorrow to make it easier for us on Saturday to get up, eat, load the car and leave."
Judy nodded her agreement. "That sounds good to me. I took the day off tomorrow as well. Fran should be in by noon and I will double check she has everything she needs packed. Also, Puck came over last night and attached the luggage rack to my van so we can load it up first thing Saturday morning then head to the airport. Our flight leaves at 10:00 and it is an hour and forty five minute drive from my driveway to the airport parking garage."
They finished talking about their plans then headed to Judy's. Once they unloaded the Land Rover and got the luggage packed and ready they all headed to bed. Sue and Shelby opted to stay since it was so late and they were all exhausted.
Santana was the last to crawl into bed and molded herself to Quinn's back. Quinn had been really quiet since they got home and they were getting worried about her. "Are you ok bear? You've been really quiet tonight."
Quinn sighed. "I'm fine angel. I'm just not sure I'm looking forward to Fran coming along on this trip."
Rachel tightened her hold. "I know baby but don't let it upset you before it has to. She promised your mom to be nice. Let's give her the benefit of the doubt until she proves she doesn't deserve it."
Santana chuckled. "Yea, then we can plot and find somewhere in the Florida swamps to dump her."
The all laughed and Quinn kissed them both lightly. "You're right. I'll just wait and see how it goes. If all else fails we just ignore her all week or feed her to an alligator."
Laughing a little more they all settled for the night and fell asleep fairly quickly.
They next morning Judy made breakfast for them all and waved them off as they headed to school. Sue and Shelby had canceled afternoon practice so she expected them back around 3:30. After spending the morning cleaning and double checking her and the girls' bags she started the last load of laundry then sat with a cup of coffee and the paper to wait for Fran.
A little after noon Judy was folding the laundry as Fran arrived. "Mom, I'm home!"
Judy smiled and rushed to her pulling her into a hug. "I'm so happy you're home. Thank you for agreeing to this vacation with us."
Fran just shrugged. "I couldn't let you have all the fun without me now could I?"
With a playful slap to her arm she pulled away. "Oh whatever, do you have your bags ready?"
Fran nodded. "Yep, I have one other in the car I need to get but I'm all set." She set her bags down and ran to the car to get the last and closed the front door behind her. "So, this is the three of us, Santana, Rachel and Shelby and Sue? How did Coach get invited to a family vacation?"
Judy smiled. "She and Shelby are a couple and the girls love her. We are actually staying at her summer home."
Fran just looked confused. "The girls love coach? The Cheerios coach? The she demon from hell? The dragon lady herself? How did that happen? That woman is the devil."
"You will not talk that way about her. Sue may be an abrasive person, but when you get past all that she is an amazing person and has done a lot for your sister and you will treat her with respect. She is always welcome in this house and in this family and I will not have you disrespecting her."
Fran was taken aback and held her hands up in surrender. "Ok mom, sheesh. I'm sorry, I didn't realize that you all had gotten so buddy, buddy with coach. I'll be respectful."
Judy just huffed. "You better be; she's going to be here after school for dinner and to stay the night. Everyone is staying here tonight so it's easier in the morning." She turned and finished folding the last shirt in her hand and put it in Santana's half of the basket then turned to Fran as she picked it up. "Can you grab the other basket please?"
Fran nodded grabbing the basket and followed her mother. She looked confused as they passed the stairs and headed down to the basement. "Um mom, why are we putting Quinn's clothes in the TV room?"
Judy opened the door and entered the room. "It's not the TV room anymore."
Fran looked around very confused. "Why are there 3 vanities and such a big bed? Quinn hates to sleep in a big bed alone."
Judy just chuckles. "She doesn't sleep in it alone and the vanities are for her, San and Rachel." She moved to the closet and started putting away the clothes that needed hung up then turned back to a dumbfounded Fran. "Hand me that basket please honey."
Fran handed it to her still looking around confused. "They live here now?"
Judy closed the closet door and moved to the dresser. "Some of the time they do. They stay here every other weekend and two days every other week. They all stay at Shelby's the rest of the time."
Fran shakes her head, "You're still letting Quinn stay over there?"
Judy nodded as she closed the drawers. "Yes, it is what is best for her, for all of them."
"You can't be serious. How can you just let her live with her girlfriends like that? Here and there, it makes no sense mom. It's not right." Fran raised her voice, totally not understanding at all.
Judy turned to face her. "You don't get to judge this situation. You were not here when I brought her home and separated her from the others." She took a deep breath shaking off the image of Quinn during that time. "You didn't see how it affected her. I will not do it. It was only three days and I knew I couldn't put her through it anymore. I will not sit by and watch her become a shell of herself again. She's happy and healthy. She's in a relationship with those girls who treat her like she hung the moon. I have ruined her life enough, I won't do it anymore." By the time she finished speaking tears were rolling down her face and she was shaking with her fist clenched to her side.
Fran just shook her head. "It can't have been that bad. She would have adjusted if you had just given it more time. Three days is not enough time."
"You weren't here Fran. You didn't see her. She didn't sleep, she barely ate, and she was like a zombie. The first night she baked all night frantically trying to get it all right. The next night she sat up at the piano and played, singing her heart out and breaking right in front of me. Rachel and Santana were no better. School was horrible for them. Quinn wouldn't speak; they huddled together and kept to themselves. They didn't talk to anyone. Shelby, Sue and I couldn't get more than one and two word answers from them."
She paused collecting herself. "You don't know what those three have been through and for a long while all they had was each other. They became dependent on each other and created their own family. We are all just small parts of that. I did this to Quinn. I allowed your father to do this to both of you. I just want to fix it and I will not put her through anymore undue trauma. You don't have to like it but you have to accept it. I am her mother, not you."
Fran just stood there dumbfounded. "Ok, fine." She turned and went up the stairs then up to her room.
Judy took a moment to calm then finished putting their laundry away and headed up to finish her coffee.
Fran walked through the second floor on the way to her room and stuck her head in Quinn's old room curious if her mother had done anything with it. She found pictures of Quinn and her girls, clothing on the bed she didn't recognize and a vanity full of cosmetics she had never seen before. She looked over and saw a track suit jacket laying over a chair and a pair of pumps beneath it.
With a shrug she left the room, headed to her own and laid on her bed. As she lay there she thought about all that Quinn had said to her at regionals and all Rachel had said to her. She still had all of her contact information she just hadn't used it. She knew she was a petty person and selfish. She wished she wasn't but wasn't sure how to not be. It was how she was raised to be but Quinn was different. She wasn't the same as when she left to go to college. She spent a day and a half with her during the competition and saw that she wasn't the same.
Maybe Rachel was right. Maybe she needed to talk to someone. She laid there a moment more than shook it off and got up to look out the window when she heard a bunch of car doors. She looked down and saw Quinn looking at the front door apprehensively. Rachel came over and took her hands as Santana wrapped her arms around her from the back, resting her chin on Quinn's shoulder. Whatever Rachel said seemed to calm her and she took a deep breath before kissing them both chastely and heading toward the front door.
Fran took a breath of her own then headed down stairs. When she got there she saw her mom hugging the girls and Rachel grabbing their school duffels. "I'm going to start a load of our practice uniforms."
Judy smile. "The others from the rest of the week are already in the washer. Just add the ones from today in and start it. I finished the rest of your clothes earlier."
Santana hugged her again. "Thanks Mama J. You didn't have to do that. We had ever intention to do that tonight."
"I know but I got bored earlier and my own stuff was finished. Besides, I think Sue and Shelby had a load or two they needed to do before we leave for a week."
Quinn threw an arm around her shoulder. "Thanks mom. Do you want us to start dinner or did you have something else planned?"
Judy shook her head. "I didn't have anything planned. I figured we'd look through the fridge and get rid of whatever we needed to so we didn't come home to a bunch of ruined veggies and fruit. You guys can look and see what you can put together, just remember your sister is here and is a meat eater. There should be some stuff in the freezer to add for her."
Quinn just shrugged. "Sure mom, we'll figure out something. Shelby and Sue will be here in an hour. They had a few things to finish up at the school before they could leave. Where is Fran, I saw her car?"
Judy opened her mouth to answer but Fran chose then to come down the stairs. "I'm right here little sister."
The all looked up at her as she descended the stair. Quinn moved forward and hugged her as she got to them. "Hey, how was your trip." She decided to take Rachel's suggestion and just treat her like one of their closest friends. Treat her like she would treat Britt or Sam.
Fran was slightly taken aback at the cheery tone. "It was fine. Traffic was crazy and I was a little later then I would have liked but I made it."
Quinn nodded as she released her then Rachel and San moved in and hugged her as well then moved off toward the laundry room and kitchen respectively. Fran and Quinn watched them go and looked back to each other.
Quinn picked up their school bags and motioned for the basement door. "Well, I'm going to put our school stuff up and then help with dinner. You're welcome to join us if you want."
With that she was off leaving Judy and a confused Fran in her wake. Fran shook her head and looked to her mom. "What was that?"
Judy just smiled sadly. "That was just your sister and her girls. It's just how they are."
Fran just stood there stunned and watched as Quinn immerged from the basement and move off to the kitchen. "Well, I guess I'll just go to the living room, watch some TV and stay out of the way."
Judy sighed and turned to head to the kitchen. "You are more than welcome to join us in the kitchen. Watching them cook is fun." With that she headed in.
After a moment of debate Fran followed. She and Judy found the girls were in full scale planning mode. Santana stood from her perch in front of the fridge. "Well I can use all the remaining veggies in here and make my stir fry."
Quinn looked around her. "I can take the rest of the fruit and make some smoothies and a fruit salad to go with it."
Rachel rested her head on Quinn shoulder. "There are a ton of bananas, I can make banana bread for desert or snack later. Otherwise they will not get all used. Neither of you like a lot of banana's in your smoothies."
They all nodded and started pulling things out of the fridge. Judy just sat at the table and pulled Fran down with her. "Shouldn't we see if we can help mom?"
Judy just shook her head. "Nope, just watch. They will include us in conversation eventually."
Fran just sat and watched them as they moved seamlessly around the kitchen together. Santana started on chopping veggies as Rachel got out the things she needed to make the bread. Quinn moved to the freezer to get some berries they kept in there for smoothies.
Santana turned to her. "Hey bear, can you grab one of the chicken breasts out of there. I need it for Fran's stir fry?" Quinn grabbed it and set it next to her with a peck on the cheek. "Thanks babe."
Quinn started chopping fruit but did the bananas first and set a bowl full next to Rachel before moving on to the rest. Santana defrosted the chicken while she finished chopping the veggies then cut it up and set it to marinade in some spices. She set it all aside in the fridge then moved to start dishes.
Rachel finished the batter, added the bananas then poured it in mini baking pans. As she put it in the oven Quinn finished pouring the smoothies into seven glasses and put them and the bowl of fruit salad in the fridge. She and Rachel moved toward San at the sink and started rinsing and drying as she washed. Santana moved to wipe down the counters as the other two finished drying and putting the dishes away.
Once they were done they moved as one to the table and sat. San looked to Judy. "Ok, we're all set. All there is left to do is take out the bread when it is done and I will start cooking the stir fry when Mama Shelby and Sue get home."
Judy just smile. "Sounds good, there are some lo mien noodles in the pantry if you want to add them to the stir fry. Otherwise Sue will be in here looking for a late night snack."
They all giggled and Santana nodded. "I had planned on it. I saw them when I first started looking. She likes her veggies but they don't say with her long before she's hungry again."
They were still laughing as Shelby and Sue walked in. Sue looked around. "What is all this happiness? You know it makes me itch."
This just made them all laugh more and Fran to just sit, as confused as she has been since the girls started dinner. Rachel got up as the timer went off and Santana stood as well. "Well since you're here I will get started on dinner now. I'm starving."
Sue sat and pulled Shelby into the seat next to her. "Well get to it then. We can watch a movie tonight after dinner and just chill unless you guys have more packing to finish."
Quinn shrugged as she got up to set the table. "We're done packing but we don't want to watch that old lady movie with you guys."
Shelby held a hand to her chest with a dramatic gasp. "It is not an old lady movie. I resent that remark."
Rachel just laughed from the oven. "Oh mom, it is an old lady movie. Fried Green Tomatoes is the definition of an old lady movie. We will just watch a movie in our room on the big screen."
Quinn and Santana laugh. "Yep and it's my turn to pick and I just got the Haunting in Connecticut." Santana beamed at them.
Quinn cheered and Rachel groaned. "San, do we have too?"
Santana moved behind her and put her mouth to her ear where no one could see. "Please querida? I just got it and I haven't seen it yet. It would mean so much to me." As she spoke huskily she ran her tongue lightly across her earlobe.
Rachel shuddered. "Ok fine but you will both protect me and cover my eyes for the really scary parts."
Santana and Quinn high fived and kissed her cheek. "Thank you baby," Quinn bounced off to finish the table and San turned back to the stove as Rachel took the breads out of their pans.
Fran watched the interaction closely. She had never seen anyone work together so seamlessly. She looked over to her mom and noticed how comfortable she was with the other two women. She'd never seen her mother so relaxed in the presence of others. It was nice to see her mom and sisters seeming so settled. It kind of made her sad that she wasn't a part of any of it.
Judy looked over as Fran's face fell and she looked away. "Hey, what's wrong honey?"
Fran shrugged and stood. "Can I be excused for a moment? I need some air." She was out the door before Judy could answer.
They all watched her go as Judy stood. "I'm going to check on her."
Rachel stepped over to her and took her hand. "Do you mind if I talk to her? I think I know what the problem is."
Judy looked to the door then back to Rachel apprehensively. "Ok, if you think you can help."
Rachel kissed her cheek and went after Fran. Rachel found her sitting on the back porch steps and sat beside her. "It's hard to sit in a group of people and feel like you don't belong."
Fran just looked forward across the yard. "What do you know about that? You're the center of their world. All of them."
Rachel just laughed humorlessly. "That is a very new development in my like. Before December I was probably the loneliest person you could have known. My whole life people pushed me out because I had two dads. I had no friends accept for my one cousin and even he wasn't there. That was my own doing but I couldn't watch people put him down because of me so I convinced him it was best that people didn't know we were related."
Fran looked at her dumbfounded. "Why would you turn the one person you had away? That makes no sense."
Rachel shrugged. "Honestly, I just wanted him to have more than I ever thought I could and I thought I was a detriment to that. Until San and Quinn I didn't think that I was going to be anything more them a Broadway star. Destined to shine bright for a long stint on the stage then slink off to spend the rest of my life alone going to a get together at Noah's a few times a year."
Fran turned back to surveying the yard. "Well at least you had a backup plan. I was bread to be the perfect trophy wife. My father trained us to be our mother a year ago. Now I just can't see it. I don't have the boyfriend dad wanted me to have. I'm not taking the classes he wanted me to and that pisses him off. I'm just not what he wanted me to be and I don't know what else to be."
Rachel leaned back on her hands. "What classes are you taking?"
Fran shrugged. "There're stupid. I'm taking marine biology, amphibian wildlife, and veterinary science. Luckily dad released our trust funds and I can pay for it myself or he would have cut me off by now. He just lets it be known that he doesn't approve."
Rachel looked at her shocked. "That is actually kind of awesome. Does Judy know about your class changes?"
"No, she wouldn't understand. It's kind of one of the reasons I was looking forward to this trip so much. She said we were going to Sea World, to swim with the dolphins and to one of the marine wildlife rescue centers."
Rachel smile. "Quinn never thought she'd understand her and our relationship but look at us now. I've learned never to underestimate your mother. She might surprise you." Rachel stood and headed back to the door. "Just so you know, you don't have to be alone here if you don't want to be. All of us want you here. Judy has been so excited for this trip with you and Quinn. It's the first without your dad and she wants to make it great. Quinn wants to get closer to you, she just doesn't know how."
Fran nodded and looked back to the yard. "Thanks Rachel."
Rachel smiles, "anytime Fran. Feel free to join us downstairs for that awful scary movie after dinner if you like."
With that Rachel moved back into the house and left Fran thinking for a few more minutes before heading back inside.
A/N: Ok, there's Fran's return. Next up dinner, the movie and the start of vacation. Again sorry for the delay and thank you for your patience and continued support.