A/N: So I hope everyone is doing okay. It's a lot harder to write for this story and fandom in general right now but I'm still going to try so just hang in there. I am still deeply saddened over the lost of Naya and my prayers are with her friends, family and fans. Enjoy the brief time we have on this earth and do what makes you happy. Rest in peace Naya, the beautiful butterfly who deserved so much more from this life.
Trying not to kill Rachel has proven harder than Quinn anticipated. In the past few days, Quinn has been trying to find ways to approach Rachel without possibly throwing her out of a window but still hasn't found one. Rachel knows she's messed up with everyone. Brittany is reconsidering their entire relationship, Santana is only sparing her because of Benji and Quinn has had a constant homicidal glint in her eyes for the past few days. Neither women have tried to talk to each other, Rachel being afraid and Quinn being pissed, but today is the day Rachel will be brave and take responsibility for her actions.
"What the hell do you want?" Quinn says evenly. Rachel decided it would be a good idea to speak with Quinn while she was at work. That way she would be more inclined to stay calm and there would be witnesses if necessary.
"I'm sure you're aware of what I would like to speak with you about." Quinn rolls her eyes, leaning back in her chair and crossing her legs.
"I would like to start off...with an apology. What I did was disrespectful and wrong. It was a betrayal of your trust and our friendship so for that I am truly sorry." Rachel takes a calming breath as she looks to Quinn's icy expression.
"Am I supposed to accept that?" Confused, Rachel's mouth opens and closes before Quinn speaks again.
"Rachel...we've had a difficult past. I bullied you, we moved past that. You dated the woman I've been in love with since high school and I had her baby. Now, you have her other child and I have her. When is this back and forth going to end? I thought we were actually real friends." Rachel's eyebrows knit.
"We are friends, Quinn. We're not competing, I just made a mistake." Quinn scoffs before a mirthless laugh leaves her lips.
"A mistake? Okay. Which one of these things were the mistake? Trying to kiss my girlfriend? Or not coming to me directly after since we're such good friends?" Quinn sneers. Rachel inhales sharply, feeling small in her seat across from Quinn.
"I...don't expect you to forgive me but I never meant to hurt you. I never meant to hurt anyone. I was being selfish in my actions and I regret everything I've done." Quinn nods.
"You should. Brittany doesn't deserve that."
"You're right. She doesn't and that's why I'm trying to make things right with her. With all of you." Quinn sighs softly as she carefully watches Rachel's features for any signs of insincerity or deception. Though she doesn't find any, she's still wary.
"Well...good luck. I can't trust you and I don't know if I'll ever be able to again." Quinn says honestly.
"I understand but I do hope one day we can work past this. I do...did value our friendship and I'm willing to work towards rebuilding our trust." With a soft but polite smile, Rachel stands from her seat.
"Answer a question for me." Rachel pauses as Quinn speaks.
"What were you trying to get out of it? Honestly. What did you think was going to happen?" Sighing, Rachel looks away before responding.
"I honestly couldn't tell you. I was acting on impulse and I didn't have a clear end goal."
"Do you want her back?" Rachel shakes her head.
"No. I had a lapse in judgment. I've come to realize that while I do have some residual feelings for Santana, I want to be with Brittany. I'm still figuring out why I did what I did but I can guarantee you, I do not want to pursue a relationship with Santana." Quinn nods as she leans forward over her desk.
"Since I won't be able to avoid you for the next 17 years, I can be cordial for my daughter's sake but if you ever try anything like that again..." Quinn leaves her words hanging in the air as a sinister smirk graces her lips. Rachel nods with an almost audible gulp.
"I understand. I'll show myself out." Turning on her heels, Rachel exits Quinn's office.
"What have I told you about throwing her into the air?" Quinn says, setting her belongings down as she walks into the living room with her family.
"What have I told you about being a buzzkill?" Santana says, smiling at her giggling daughter as she catches her. Quinn rolls her eyes as she approaches them, kissing Santana's cheek before taking Kai from her.
"How was your day?" Santana asks, sitting on the couch as Quinn hugs their daughter.
"The same as any other until Rachel popped up." Santana's eyebrow quirks.
"She try to kiss you too?" Quinn rolls her eyes at the joke as Santana smirks to herself.
"She apologized, obviously."
"For being a shit friend?" Quinn nods as she sits Kai down, who walks over to her floor mat grabbing a toy and walking back to her mothers.
"She did make it out alive right? I didn't get a call to pick up Benji." Quinn rolls her eyes as she watches Kai lean on the couch and play with the toy in her hand.
"She only walked out alive because of him." Santana nods.
"Yeah, I'm still pretty pissed at her. B is a wreck and it's all my fault and I can't even fix it."
"How is it your fault?"
"I told them to go for it."
"Yeah but you didn't tell Rachel to do what she did. That was all her." Quinn tells her and she shrugs.
"It doesn't feel like that. I just want Britt to be okay. Anyway, you got any other news?" Quinn shrugs, leaning back against the couch.
"I got a text from my sister. Apparently my mother gave her my number."
"You'd think she felt lucky that you were talking to her. Didn't think she'd go off and organize a family reunion." Santana responds and Quinn shrugs.
Quinn and her sister have always had a complicated relationship. Growing up, Frannie would stick up for Quinn occasionally and though they weren't the closest, they did have a sisterly bond. When her family found out about Beth, Francesca Fabray had nothing to say and Quinn could only take her silence as her older sister shunning her the way her parents had.
Being a few years older, Frannie wasn't even in Lima when Quinn had become pregnant, having ran off to California the second she'd turned 18. In the past, Quinn resented her for leaving her with their parents but as she got older, she realized that Frannie was her own person and made decisions for herself. So Quinn may not like her decision but it doesn't mean she shouldn't like her sister for making it.
"I knew it was coming. I would be surprised if my father tried to talk to me."
"No offense...actually take it how you want. If you choose to have that dickhead in your life, that's fine but he's not getting anywhere near my kid. I will kick his ass and file for sole custody." Santana responds.
"That's actually pretty fair but you don't have to worry. That will never happen."
"Glad we're on the same page. So, are you gonna talk to her or what?" Quinn shrugs.
"I guess it wouldn't hurt to text her back."
"Are you actually talking to your mom right now?" Quinn nods slightly, watching as Kai walks across the room to grab another toy.
"We've talked a little. I'm not sure I forgive her...but I'm not mad anymore and it's been...kinda nice talking to her again." Smiling softly, Santana moves closer to her.
"I'm just glad you're happy." She says, gently cupping her cheek drawing her forward press a gentle kiss to her lips. Smiling against her lips, Quinn rests her hand on the one against her cheek.
"It's hard not to be with you around."
"Remember that the next time I piss you off." Santana says with a light chuckle.
"I'm going to take a shower." Quinn quickly pecks Santana's lips before standing from the couch.
"We'll be here when you get back." Santana says, lying on the couch facing Kai.
As Quinn enters her bedroom, she strips before walking into her en suite bathroom. Quinn begins to sit her phone on the sink when it begins to ring. Curiously, Quin answers the unfamiliar number.
"Hello?"
"Hi, is this Lucy Fabray?" A woman's voice rings out from the other side of the phone.
"Yes, may I ask who's calling?" Quinn responds.
"Hi, my name is Stacey. I'm calling from Dr. Braxton's office. We'd like to have you come in for a follow up." Quinn's eyebrows scrunch. Dr. Braxton is her gynecologist and she'd just went for an appointment.
"Is there a reason?" She asks.
"There's just a few things she wants to go over with you in person. Would you be available for Thursday at 1 pm?"
"Uh...sure."
"Great, we've got you in. Take care." The call ends and Quinn feels a knot forming in the pit of her stomach.