Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to Glee or any of its characters. I don't have a beta so all mistakes are mine.
Chapter 33
It had been three hours since they had put the girls to bed. All three falling asleep immediately. San and Quinn due to injury and medication, Rachel from sheer mental exhaustion. Shelby had woken Santana up at the two hour mark asking her questions then letting her go back to sleep. Neither of her bed mates stirring.
She and Sue were now sitting in the living room talking. Shelby sitting leaning into Sue, her own mental exhaustion setting in. "Sue, I just don't know what else to do for them. They have all been through so much."
Sue tightened her arm around her. "There's nothing else you can do. You're doing all you can. You have been so good for all three of them."
Shelby sighed. "I don't know what I'm going to do if Judy insists on taking Quinn home. They need to be together. I promised her I wouldn't let her take her, but what can I really do?"
"We will talk to her. Make her understand. Hopefully it won't be an issue. We won't know for sure until she gets here."
Shelby was about to reply when the doorbell rang. She got up and went to answer it. Judy was there on the other side looking slightly panicked. "Oh god I never thought I'd get here." She held her hand out. "Hi, I'm Judy."
Shelby shook her hand. "I'm Shelby. Nice to put a face with a name. Come in please." She showed her in and to the living room offering her a seat.
Judy sat turning to Sue. "It's nice to see you again Coach Sylvester. I wish it could be under better circumstances."
Sue just sat back. "It's nice to see you too Mrs. Fabray, and its Sue when we're not at school."
Judy smiled slightly. "Then it's Judy as well." She looked around as Shelby took her seat. "Where are the girls?"
Shelby sighed. "They are still sleeping. Today took a lot out of them and the painkillers knocked out San and Quinn. Rachel is just mentally drained."
Judy sat back in her chair. "Well then let's let them sleep. Can you tell me exactly what happened?"
"I think it would be best if I started from the beginning." Shelby said and Judy nodded her agreement.
Shelby went on to explain what all happened with the rape in December and everything since. Finn, Cheerios, Glee, Rachel's Fathers, her emancipation, and Shelby finding her after so long. She explained the events that led her to having guardianship Santana (Not the reason), her moving in and working at the school. She then gave a detailed account of what had happened in the locker room that morning and told her again what the doctors had said about the girls.
To say the least Judy was shell shocked. "Oh my I've missed so much. I can't believe so much has happened in less than two months." Judy looked toward the fireplace for a long moment deep in thought.
Shelby decided to bite the bullet, "Judy," she said getting her attention. "I would like to invite you to stay the night here. I don't think it would be a good idea to split them up right now. Quinn was terrified of going home without them, asking if you could both stay here."
Judy nodded. "I agree. They've been through so much together. Quinn would just completely shut down if I took her home tonight. If it's not an imposition we will stay."
Shelby and Sue both let out a breath they hadn't been aware that they were holding. Shelby sighed in relief. "It's not an imposition in any way. I love Quinn and they need each other." Her alarm went off, she grabbed her phone and looked back to Judy. "I need to wake Santana again if you would like to come up with me so you can look in on Quinn."
Judy got up quickly wanting to see Quinn with her own eyes. "Yes please. I just need to lay eyes on her."
Shelby walked in and motioned for Judy to follow. The girls were in their normal positions with Rachel in the middle, head on San's chest with Quinn wrapped around her. She walked over to the bed and shook Santana lightly. "San baby wake up." San looked up bleary eyed. "There you are. What's your name sweetheart?"
San blinked at her. "Santana Marie Lopez."
Shelby pointed to the other girls. "Who are they?"
San smiles dreamily. "Mi estrella y mi oso." She said happily.
Shelby just smiled. "Who am I?"
San stretched and yawned. "Mama Shelby."
Shelby kissed her on the forehead trying not to tear up. "Ok angel, go back to sleep."
San looked up at her. "I'm hungry."
Shelby chuckled. "Ok. Sleep some more and I will start dinner and come wake you all when it's ready."
San gave a little pout. "Can we have soy burgers and sweet potato fries?"
Shelby laughed. "Of course sweetie. Now close your eyes. I'll be back when it's ready." San sighed happily and snuggled back into Rachel running a hand up to Quinn's shoulder and fell back to sleep.
Judy watched the whole thing with interest then walked over to Quinn, kissed her on the cheek, pulled the blanket up around them better and followed Shelby out.
Once they were back in the hall she turned to Shelby. "What was it that she called the girls?"
Shelby smiled. "Mi estrella is my star. Mi oso is my bear. That's what they call each other. San and Quinn call Rachel star because she is the star of their glee club and we are all sure she will be a star when she grows up, but it's more of a term of endearment. Rachel and Santana call Quinn bear because as you saw she's like a koala bear when she sleeps, they think it's funny and cute. Now Quinn and Rachel call Santana angel because she is like an avenging angel when she is protection mode over them."
Judy just smiled "They are too cute. They look like a litter of puppies all snuggled and laying all over each other."
They went back down stairs and Shelby prayed that she would feel the same when she found out about their relationship. She heads into the living room to tell Sue that Santana said she was hungry and her requested meal. The three of them head to the kitchen to start dinner.
Sue works on the burgers while Shelby starts slicing sweet potatoes and Judy prepares a salad. Judy looks at all the food that's out. "Are you two and the girls all vegan?" she sounds a little shocked.
Shelby chuckles. "Sue and the girls are vegan. I am a vegetarian, my system can't handle a fully vegan lifestyle. If you would prefer I think we have some hamburger patties in the freezer Rachel keeps for her cousin Noah."
Judy shakes her head. "No that's ok. When I eat with Quinn I cook and eat vegan with her. I was just curious about how you are all vegan."
Sue chose to answer. "If you remember, the Cheerios all started to eat vegan at the beginning of the school year. I won't make them do something I will not do as well. Rachel has been vegan for years. I think that's where San and Quinn got the idea for the Cheerios from. Shelby said she's been a vegetarian since college."
"Oh, ok that makes sense then." She replied going back to her chopping for the salad.
Once it was all prepared and ready for the table Shelby left Sue and Judy to set the table and put the food out while she went to wake the girls. She started with Quinn first. "Quinn honey, wake up."
Quinn rolled over looking at her. "Is mom here?"
Shelby smiled, "Yes, she's been here for a few hours and dinner is ready so you need to get up sweetie."
Quinn looked apprehensive. "Did you talk to her about staying the night?"
Shelby helped her sit up when she tried and winced at the pain in her stomach. "Yes and she agreed that it would be better for you to say with the girls."
Quinn let out a sigh in relief and turned to Rachel. "Come on star. Time for dinner baby."
Rachel squirmed a little but Santana's eyes opened when she said dinner. "Dinner's ready?" Shelby nodded "Sweet, wake up querida, dinner time estrella."
Rachel rolled off San and looked up at Shelby smiling. "What's for dinner? The way San is acting you'd think it was Bread Sticks." She said chuckling
Shelby laughed. "No, it's not Bread Sticks but she did request soy burgers and sweet potato fries and we also made a salad."
Rachel sat up climbing to the side of the bed. "Oh that does sound good. Thank you for cooking mom." She said as she kissed her cheek and headed into the bathroom with the girls to splash water on her face and brush her hair out.
They headed down stairs and into the kitchen. Sue and Judy were finishing up with the table putting glasses and a pitcher of tea out.
Quinn walks to her mom and wraps her in a hug. Judy just holds on for dear life. "I am so glad you are ok. How is your stomach?" she asks while pulling her shirt up.
Quinn lets her but groans. "Mom. I'm ok, just sore." She swats her hands away and hugs her again. "Thank you for letting me stay."
Judy rubs her back. "Of course. You guys have been through a lot and need to be together tonight. I understand. Now let's eat before this gets cold, and you need to introduce me to Rachel."
They sit with the others San and Rachel leaving the seat between them open for her. Once she is seated she turns to Rachel. "Rach this is my mom Judy. Mom this is Rachel."
Rachel leans forward to shake her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Fabray."
Judy smiles. "The pleasure's mine sweetie and call me Judy please." Rachel nodded and Judy turns to San. "Santana it's nice to see you again dear. How are you feeling? How's your head honey."
San just gives a slight smile. "It's ok the medicine helps but the light kind of hurts my eyes."
Rachel gets up and goes to the light switch dimming the lights a bit. "You should have said something angel. I would have dimmed them sooner." She said sitting back down.
San sighed in relief. "I didn't realize they dimmed querida or I would have. Thank you." Rachel nods and goes back to filling her plate.
Quinn stretched to grab some food and winced in pain. Rachel put a hand on her arm grabbing the plate of fries for her. "Here bear let me, don't stretch out if it hurts sweetie."
Quinn nodded "Thank you star." San reached over grabbing her a burger adding a little dressing and tomatoes on it, put it on her plate and handed her the salad bowl, put the vinaigrette within easy reach. Quinn got some salad and handed the bowl back to San. "Thank you angel."
San rubbed a hand on her back and went back to eating. Judy ate and watched their interaction with interest. She had seen Quinn interact with Santana and Brittany for years and she had never seen them this comfortable or touchy feely before. Well Brittany was but the other two were not. She shrugged internally chalking it up to the experiences they had recently shared.
They ate and made small talk, filling Judy in on some of the new stuff in Glee and Cheerios. The adults carried most of the conversation toward the end of the meal. The girls had gotten quiet alerting Shelby that something was wrong.
When San and Quinn pushed their plates away having only eaten about half their food she was sure of it. "What's wrong girls?" Judy having not picked up that anything was amiss looked up at her daughter.
San just shook her head slightly. "Can I have another pill now mama Shelby? It's really starting to hurt again"
Quinn looked to her as well rubbing her stomach lightly. "Me too? It's starting to ache something awful."
"Of course babies." Shelby got up and moved over to the counter and grabbed their pill bottles and a bottle of Advil and came back to the table. She hands San hers then Quinn's then turned to Rachel with two Advil. Rachel just looked confused. "I can see the headache in your eyes sweetheart. It's probably a stress headache, just take the Advil."
Rachel nodded and took the pills. San turned back to Shelby. "I'm not trying to be rude but I'm going to head back up and lay back down before the little men with jack hammers in my head manage to dislodge my brain and run away with it."
Shelby just chuckled. "Go ahead baby." She looked to the other girls. "Why don't you all head up and go to bed. You look like you need it." They all nodded and got up rounding the table to kiss and hug her goodnight.
Quinn then hugged her mom and they all ran a hand along Sue's shoulder saying good night as they headed out of the room holding hands. Shelby picked up her phone and set her timer for two and a half hours to give San time to fall asleep so she could wake her later.
Judy noticed her setting the alarm again. "How long does she have to be woken every two hours?"
Shelby sighed, "24 hours, so noon tomorrow. Will you be heading back soon or are you staying?"
"I talked to my boss on the drive home and he gave me the week off. I have to drive back Saturday for a business dinner unless Quinn gets worse. I can stay here with this girls during the day so you can go to work if need be."
"I will take you up on that Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. I already called Figgins and let him know I wouldn't be in tomorrow. The class I teach is in the late afternoon and I have glee rehearsal Wednesday and Friday." She told Judy gratefully.
Judy nodded. "That's fine. I can make my conference calls in the morning before you go in. Is it ok if I just stay here for the week? It will be easier to watch both girls that way."
Shelby smiled. "That would be great."
Sue stood up. "Well ladies I'm going to head out unless you need me to stay and help with San tonight."
Shelby shook her head. "No, but thank you. I will be on the couch in their room tonight to keep an eye and ear out and wake San. Go ahead and go home, get some rest. You have Cheerios bright and early." She stood and hugged her walking her to the door.
"I'm keeping Rachel home tomorrow. I won't send her back by herself the day right after what happened today. I don't know who would be the bigger nervous wreck. Me, her, or the girls." She said with a small chuckle.
Sue laughed lightly with her. "I figured as much. I have Britt, Sam and Marsha taking over with the Cheerios until they get back. No worries."
Shelby hugged her again. "Thank you for all your help and just everything." As she pulled away she kissed her cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow Sue."
Sue just looked at her dumbfounded. "Uh yea. Your welcome, see you tomorrow." and with that she was out the door.
Shelby chuckled and headed back into the kitchen finding Judy cleaning up dinner. "Judy you don't have to clean, you are a guest after all."
Judy just shook her head. "No, my daughter and I are squatters and I can help while I'm here."
"No, your daughter is family. Don't let Rachel or San hear you talk that way or they'll flip. She is more than welcome here for as long as she wants to be. We love her being here. You're her mother so that makes you welcome as well." Shelby said passionately.
Judy just looked stunned for a moment. "Well, than all the more reason for me to help clean up." Shelby just nodded and started helping.
Once the kitchen was put to right they sat drinking coffee talking until Shelby's alarm went off. Shelby stood up to go upstairs and Judy stood as well. "Can I go up with you? I'd like to check on them. I've known Santana since she was eight, I just want to see she's ok."
Shelby just smile. "Of course. I need to learn how to share. It's just been me and them since the end of December, I got spoiled." They both chuckled and headed up the stairs.
Once they made it to their room they found that they had shifted positions a bit. Rachel had turned over and was now totally wrapped in a Quinn cocoon with San spooning her from behind. Quinn's leg draped over both girls.
Judy giggled softly pointing at them. "See, puppies." Causing Shelby to giggle as well.
She woke San going through some new questions. After they kissed the girls then headed back out and Shelby turned to Judy. "Why don't we get your things and get you settled into the guest room. Then I am going to change for bed and settle down on the couch in the girls' room."
They headed out to Judy's car and brought in her luggage putting her in the guest room closest to the girls. After she got settled in she found Shelby coming out of her room dressed for bed. They said their good nights and headed to bed. Shelby settled on the couch and dozed in and out between her alarms for San.
Around 3:00 she heard a noise coming from the bed. She got up and went to the bed to see who is was. Rachel was visibly sweating and had a death grip on Quinn, whimpering in her sleep. She leaned over grabbing her shoulder and gently shaking her to wake her.
At the contact Rachel sat bolt straight up in the bed "QUINN!"
Shelby was about to try and comfort her but San and Quinn were up and wrapped around her in an instant. Quinn cooed in her ear while Santana rubbed her hair in long strokes. "I'm ok baby, I'm right here. We're all right here." Quinn spoke quietly trying to calm her.
Rachel was shaking and soaked from sweat. "He… he… got you. I couldn't stop it." She sobbed into Quinn's neck.
Quinn lifted her by her chin to look into her eyes. "Hey, I'm right here baby. I'm ok." She cradled her face and kissed her softly but passionately.
No one noticed her presence until Judy gasped from the doorway at the sight of the intimate kiss. Shelby had left the door slightly opened in case she needed to call out to her for help.
All eye swung to her. Shelby shifted slightly in protection mode. Quinn tensed but didn't move away. "Mom" she said in a shaky voice but pull Rachel into her. Rachel was still shaken and her wellbeing is what matter the most to her.
Judy held up a hand shaking her head. "No, it's ok. Just… we can talk tomorrow." she walked over to the bed and looked at Rachel. "Are you ok?"
Rachel trembled. Partly from being soaked in sweat partly from fear of Judy's reaction. "Y-yes. I'm ok." She hugged Quinn tighter. "Please don't take her away." She said tears streaming down her face.
"Oh sweetie, I'm not taking her anywhere." She reached out to cup her shoulder noticing her wet shirt. "Oh goodness you're soaked," she looked to Quinn and San noticing they were all a little wet. "You all are." She turned to Shelby "Take them and get them changed and warmed up." She started pulling blankets off the bed. "Where are your clean linens?"
San pointed to the smaller closet. "Top of that closet right side for sheets. The blankets are in the hall linen closet by the stairs. It's the green blanket on the top shelf."
Shelby ushered Quinn and Rachel into the bathroom while San got them all dry clothing. Rushing into the small closet ahead of Judy to grab them each a set of their Cheerios sweats then headed back to the room to grab under clothing from their dresser.
Judy watched her the whole time noting that she got clothes from three different parts of the closet and dresser. After San went into the bath room she went in the closet to grab the sheets. She looked around for a moment noticing the closet was sectioned off into three parts with all their Cheerios gear separated out for each girl. She took the sheets and changed the bed tossing the dirty linens by the door going out and getting the clean blanket from the hall closet.
She was just finishing putting clean pillow cases on when the girls and Shelby came out. Rachel in black Cheerios sweats and the other girls in red. She smiled putting the last pillow in place and pulled the covers back. She walked over to the dresser where she and Shelby had set their meds and bottles of water earlier.
She handed them all their meds after they got back in bed. "Here you all look like you need these."
They took them and drank some water then put their bottles on the night stand. They didn't lay back down just kept watching Judy cautiously. She sighed, "ok maybe we should talk about this now or you're not going to sleep." They nodded and Shelby sat on the bed next to them.
Judy looked from Quinn to Rachel a few time. "Ok, I have a question. How long have you and Rachel been dating?" she asked Quinn.
Quinn looked terrified but answered her honestly. "Since the Friday before Christmas, but I have cared deeply for her since freshman year." She paused taking a deep breath looking to San and Rachel. They nodded their support and she continues. "It's not just Rachel."
Judy looked confused. "What's not just Rachel?"
"I'm not just dating Rachel." Judy looked shocked and looked at Rachel who was just smiling adoringly at Quinn. Quinn took Santana's hand. "I'm dating San too."
Judy was taken aback by that statement. "You're dating both of them?" Quinn nodded, "and they're both ok with this?"
Quinn sighed. "It's not like that. We are dating each other. All three of us are in a relationship together."
Judy just sat there dumbfounded. She was honestly ok with Quinn dating Rachel. It was her ex-husband that was a jackass about gay people, not her. She just wanted Quinn happy, but two girls at the same time. She wasn't sure how to process that. "I'm not sure how to take that honey. One girls is one thing. I was ok with that. I'm just not sure I understand how this works."
Quinn look shocked, "You're ok that I'm gay?"
Judy just shrugged. "Honestly yes, I just want you happy. I just don't understand the two girls at the same time."
Quinn was trying to think of how to explain but Santana nudged her. "Can I try bear?" Quinn nodded and San turned to Judy. "Do you remember a couple of years ago our families all got together for a barbeque? The last one you guys attended."
Judy thought for moment. "Yes Brittany had some Aunts that arrived with a bunch of kids. Then Russel found out that they were gay couples and we left. He wouldn't let Quinn go to Brittany's house after that."
San nodded. "Yes but they're not two separate couples. They are all together in one relationship and have been for over twenty years now. The kids belong to all of them they raise them together. All of them have given birth at one time or another. They live together, raise a family together, pay bills together and everything."
Rachel cut in. "They are just like any other family except there are four adults who are committed and faithful to each other and their family instead of two."
Judy just looked stunned. "I've never heard of anything like that before." She said deep in thought. "Well I guess it's your choice. I'm still not sure I understand it but. Are you happy Quinn?"
Quinn nodded vigorously. "Yes, very much so."
Judy stood up. "Well then, I'm happy for you."
Quinn was still in shock that she had been so calm about this. "That's it. You're not mad or anything? You're not gonna kick me out or slap me around?" she asked confused.
Judy was taken aback. "Absolutely not! What kind of person do you think I am?" she paused and held up a hand. "Never mind. Don't answer that. I probably deserved that."
Shelby decided to step in. "Judy, I don't think they 100% thought that you would. But they did prepare themselves for it. Santana's mother caught her kissing Quinn and literally kicked the crap out of her and kicked her out of the house. I had to threaten the woman within an inch of her life to get her to back off and sign over custody to me. That's how I became San's guardian. I even had my lawyer draw up papers for you in case they were needed."
This was news to Quinn. "You did?"
Shelby turned to her. "Of course I did. I told you all before. My baby loves you, I love you and I protect what's mine."
Quinn leaned over and hugged her. "Thank you." Then got up and went to hug her mom. "You're really ok with this?"
Judy hugged her close. "Yes baby. I just want you to be happy. I may not be around like I should and I don't know how to be a good enough mother to you. Hell Shelby's been in a mother's roll for less than two months and is already better than I have ever been. But I will support you in this."
Quinn just squeezed her harder "Thank you mom."
Judy held on for a moment. "Ok now that that's out of the way. Santana looks like she's going to fall over and Rachel is not far behind. Why don't you crawl into bed and get some more sleep."
The girls crawled under the covers and snuggled in, Rachel laying on Quinn with San behind her. Judy pulled the blankets up, and kissed them all on the forehead. "Rachel, are you ok, or do you need to talk about your nightmare sweetie."
Rachel shook her head. "No, I'm ok. She's ok and you're not taking her. So, I'm good. Thank you."
Judy walked to the door bid everyone good night and headed off to bed. Once she was settled she lay there thinking about all that had happened that day and what she had learned. She still wasn't sure she understood Quinn's relationship but she loved her and wanted her happy so she would figure it out. Drifting off to sleep she knew the next few days should be interesting.
A/N: Next the week with Judy and Rachel's solo return to school.