Rachel is at the stove prepping lunch when she jumps out her skin when an excited Quinn rushes in with a squeal.
"Rachel! You have to see this!"
Rachel smiles as she now knows what an excited childlike Quinn acts like. She never thought she'd see the day, hell she didn't even believe this side of the blonde existed.
Ever since she told the blonde about Pittsburg, Quinn has been nonstop shopping online for the perfect Halloween costumes for the kids.
This has to be the thousandth time today the blonde has run in like this. She finds a costume and thinks it's the cutest then she forgets about that one in favor of a new one she discovers.
It's all kinds of cute in Rachel's opinion.
Rachel leans over the blonde's shoulder to take a look at the blonde's laptop screen. Sure enough there's a Harry Potter costume made for a newborn.
"Isn't it so cute?! She can be Hermonie! Annnndd.."The blonde clicks to another page and their is a costume for Harry and Ron and Rachel just knows who those are meant for.
"I know you probably have a costume picked out for Jaxon but I thought it was too adorable not to show you!"
"That is cute! I don't actually have Jaxon's costume picked out so if you want to, we can do Harry Potter for them. Have you asked Charlie?"
Quinn is staring at Rachel as if she just lassoed the moon.
"Really? You'd let us dress up in theme?" Quinn's voice takes on one of awe and hopefulness.
"Yes, I don't see why not?"
Before Rachel can say anything else she has a squealing, jumping up and down Quinn in front of her before she's promptly pulled into one of the tightest hugs she's ever had and being told 'You're the best!'
Rachel couldn't hold in her laughter either. If this is Quinn excited on Halloween, she can't wait to see Quinn on Christmas morning.
Puck growled as he threw his empty beer can toward the over flowing trash can in his apartment, watching it as it hit the top but ultimately rolled off hitting the floor along with the rest of the trash on the floor that definitely needed to be cleaned up.
His eyes look down at the past due notice of the light bill. He feels his anger boil as his alcohol intake increases, he opens another beer and begins downing it quickly.
He doesn't know what to do anymore. He's searched everywhere but still he can't find her. His list of students is slowly dwindling to nothing.
How could she be at school then vanish without a trace after, he had no clue.
He looks at the next name on the list. The name he's skipped several times because honestly Rachel Berry was public enemy number one on Quinn Fabray's list.
In fact, she was the black, gooey, sticky shit at the bottom of the barrel that Quinn had stepped on more times than he can count but he's running out of people.
So he decides after the stake out tonight then the next house he's hitting is Rachel's even if it is a waste of time.
Quinn hums in happiness as she packs Beth's bag for the trip. She can't believe in four days she'll be headed to Pittsburg Pennsylvania. She's never been this excited for anything.
Living with Rachel is turning out to be the greatest decision she's ever made. Just then the blonde realizes she's low on diapers.
Rachel is in her bedroom going through her annual Halloween checklist when Quinn pops in.
"Hey Rae?"
"Yes?"
"I'm a little low on diapers, do you mind watching the kids while I run out for some?"
"Sure."
"Thanks."
"You're welcome-hey wait!"
"Yeah?"
"Can you pick me up something?"
"Of course."
"Here I need these things and make sure they're vegan." Rachel says as she hands her a list.
"No problem."
"Thanks."
"You're welcome."
Quinn leaves the house and it's already seven so she has some form of shadow.
$389.43 shines on the screen displaying Santana's bank account information. Santana sighs to herself. She takes a deep calming breath then plasters on a smile for Britney.
"Come on Brit-Brit, lets head inside before they close." The two girls exit the car and head into the super store.
Rachel hears the line pick after three rings and smiles broadly.
"Hey midge!"
"How many times do I have to tell you to stop calling me that."
"It's a term of affection."
"Oh please, it's an insult directed at my height!"
"Tamatoe, tamato."
"I swear you-"
"Calm down young padawan."
"Once again for the millionth time, I literally have no idea what that means! I didn't call to decipher any of your nerdy spaceman lingo." Rachel said with a huff.
"Okay first of all, ouch! You wound me Berry."
"Keep it up and I'll wound more than your inner nerd, Mills."
"What crawled up your ass and died?"
"Must you be so crass?"
"Says the potty mouth tyrant when crossed!"
"Okay, can we focus on the fact that I called my big sister for a reason?"
"And that's to get your kiddy kicks off by offending me? No thank you, I'm hanging up now."
"You wouldn't!"
"You're right I wouldn't. I don't need to be bombarded with not only a billion phone calls, texts messages, but add harassment emails I'm sure my eyes would melt."
"I do not write harassment emails!" Rachel huffed indignantly.
Quinn pushed her cart through the aisle unconsciously just like Rachel had a day or so prior.
"Ouch!" (Britney)
"Watch where you're going assho-" (Santana)
"I'm so sorry-Santana? (Quinn)
The three girls all looked at each other in surprise.
"Q!" Britney squealed her eyes shining for the first time in weeks.
"Quinn, hey.."
There it was again, Santana speaking her full name in a subdued manner. Quinn faltered for only a second before a genuine smile overtook her features.
"Hey guys! How have you been?" Quinn asked.
"We've been sad pandas because-" Britney began only to be cut off by a seemingly urgent Santana.
"Because we haven't really seen you around. Uh-Ho-How have you been?"
Quinn has been friends with these two since first moving to Lima. So she's well versed in the signs and signals of a distressed Santana trying to intercept a Britney over share.
Just when she was going to do her 'Quinn thing' to find out why Santana is acting like a skittish cat. It happens. Britney's eyes cast to the cart she's pushing. The cart that has baby items in it.
"You wear diapers Q? It's okay if you do my nana wears them to-"
In that moment, as Britney rattles on about her grandma, oblivious to what having newborn diapers in the cart actually meant.
Considering she and Santana had both been in the cafeteria that day when Quinn told Puck she gave Beth up for adoption, Santana and Quinn's eyes lock. Santana could see it. The fear that Santana just might spill the beans.
"Brit, you didn't know Quinn helps out at the baby hospital. She's just helping the nurses pick up what the babies need. Isn't that right Q?" Santana said pointedly with sincere eyes of a promise. A promise of a secret buried permanently no matter what, that promise made the blondes heart release from its tight grip.
"Y-Yeah, I volunteer."
"Oh yeah, babies.." Britney said sadly and Quinn could clearly see the shine that was always glowing around Britney dim to nothingness.
A weight weighing on the tall blondes shoulders. Quinn could see a shift in Santana as well and once again Quinn felt her belly drop and her intuition spike.
"So I'm guessing this is about Halloween?"
"Of course." Rachel replied.
"Sorry baby sis but if I'm going to help your friend get her approval especially after seeing just what situation she's actually in. It's a no go for me. I've got too much to do with little time to do it."
Rachel sighed sadly. "Okay that's understandable. Her emancipation is more important. Well when will we be seeing you? Your nephew misses you. You've been so busy you didn't even celebrate you're birthday."
"I'm not sure yet but when I know you'll know. So how long will you be in Pittsburg and is your friend going with you?"
"Yes, I wasn't going to leave her behind."
"Good, make sure she takes lots of pictures. We need to paint a solid picture of family moments."
"That's given, you know me and my pictures."
"Yes I do. Anyway sis, I have to go. I've got work to do."
"Okay, I love you and please remember to rest, workaholic."
"I will mom."
"Har har, you're not funny."
"Dad then?"
"Don't you even!"
Laughter came down the line and Rachel smiled broadly. It was nice to hear her sister laugh again.
"I love you midge."
"I love you too crazy."
"Bye."
"Bye."
"Well I should be going." Quinn said.
"Yeah us too." Santana followed.
"It's good to see you though. Can we hang out soon?" Britney asked.
"Sure Brit, just text me."
Santana hesitated but ultimately did the unimaginable again. She pulled Quinn into a hug and whispered: If you ever need me I'm there always.
Quinn wrapped her arms around Santana and gave her just as tight of a hug.
"Thank you. Same to you San. I mean it, I'm always here for you and Brit just say the word."
Santana cleared her throat and pulled from the hug trying but failing to hide her emotional state.
Next Britney rushed over to Quinn and pulled her into a bone crushing hug and it only took a second.
It only took a second for Quinn to become not only confused but worried. So much so that it rendered her speechless.
"I love you Q!" Britney kissed her cheek then released her, grabbing Santana's hand before the two walked away with a final wave.
Quinn stared after them with wide eyes.
"No.." The blonde whispered with a disbelieving shake of her head. "No way..."
