"Shoes" Quinn hears across the house as Eliza runs past her grabbing everything she needs. It's like a tornado everything flies through the air as she speeds around the house, she clearly got this from Rachel.
"Hi" she says with half an orange in her mouth as Quinn stands in the open doorway of the house. Quinn spots a young girl Eliza's age strapping on shin pads and smiles that must be Peyton. She looked sweet enough.
"Hi I'm Quinn." She figures if Rachel is right, and Eliza is as close to Peyton as she says winning over the best friend will be very helpful.
"Peyton, hi" there's no confusing the short stiff smile she receives Peyton already doesn't like her.
"I've heard a lot about you. My daughter cares a lot about you." Quinn tries to continue the conversations but receives a small nod.
"I care for her too." Peyton says and thankfully at that moment Quinn hears Rachels voice calling through the house.
"Peyton come and grab your snack too."
"Yes, Mama Fabray I'm coming" she jogs over and takes it from her smiling. Quinn wasn't used to hearing her name and it associated with Rachel anymore it surprised her that she kept using it her last name.
"Is she ready?" Rachel asks the young girl and Peyton shakes her head and give her a look of what do you think.
"Barely but what's new, were always nearly late because Liza can't keep up with us" she jokes, and they laugh.
"Go speed her up." Rachel says and she nods her head.
"Yes ma'am. Eliza Fabray move your butt were going to miss the first half." She shouts after Eliza across the house, it felt more like a home with the hustle and bustle Peyton certainly made the house more like a family home. Quinn watches in awe as Rachel gets everything ready effortlessly. Making it look easy and as if anyone could do it.
"Why didn't you have more?" she asks without even clearly thinking her filter she left back at the hotel.
"What?" Rachel asks just as surprised she stops packing up food and she takes a drink of her water before she begins to peel an orange.
"You're clearly a hit with kids, why didn't you have more?" Quinn states, Rachel can't quite tell if this is a trap or a genuine question. She decides it doesn't matter and just leans against the counter taking a moment and responding honestly.
"I've been thinking about it recently. A lot actually I have but I would need to ask Eliza how she would feel about it and a child at 34 alone it's tough. I am a lot less spry than I was when I had Eliza. Doing it alone again I don't know"
"Why not before?" Quinn asks she didn't know that Rachel felt like more kids was an option now, but it certainly surprised her to learn Rachel would be open to more.
"I felt guilty enough the first time and as I said raising a child alone is tough."
"You've done a great job. She's amazing." Quinn comments and it's the first time she has said anything even remotely kind to Rachel who just looks on shell shocked. She thinks about responding but Quinn turns around before she can "Liza, I bought you something here" she says holding out a box waiting for her to walk over she hands her new football boots.
"Wow Quinn these are amazing I. You shouldn't have." Eliza says unwrapping them.
"Now come on top goal scorer needs great boots. Well-deserved I expect them to be half ruined by the end of today."
"Thank you" she says putting them on and smiling, Peyton smiles too but it's fake and Quinn catches it. Peyton clearly doesn't like her. It wasn't just an awkward meeting it was clear detest. Its hidden but only slightly. "Let's go Peyton" Eliza says pulling her out to the car. "Your so slow, you are going to make us late" she jokes, and Peyton shoves her.
Before Quinn can join them in walking to the car, she is pulled back by Rachels voice. "Quinn all purchases can we discuss them first?"
"Why it's just boots?"
"Yes, and then it's just a tv and a car and a holiday. I want her to work for things. Earn them the boots are fine, but can we please talk first before you do that again?" Rachel asks and Quinn nods, it's not how she would like to do things, but she can appreciate not spoiling kids was for the best Santana had shown her that with Peter. He was so thankful anytime he received anything.
"Sure. Understood."
"Thank you." They get to the car and the ride is quick, but the tension is palpable. Something is just off and Quinn wonders if she should have taken her own car. Once they are the game time flies and Quinn watches Eliza in awe. She's amazing, her and Peyton clearly have some sort of mental connection because the way the work together is off the charts. When Eliza scores Peyton points to her even though the whole set up was done by her. The goal could have been Peyton's but there is no selfishness in the way they play. They were brilliant together.
"They are exceptional"
"Yeah, they are." Rachel smiles she loved Peyton as if she was her own daughter. The pride coming off Rachel was not just for Eliza but Peyton too.
"Peyton doesn't like me." Quinn states and Rachel frowns shaking her head. The kid was a saint she loved everyone.
"What?"
"Don't know why she just doesn't." Quinn confirms clapping as the team keep the ball from their opponents counting down the second half.
"No, she's just shy."
"Okay" Quinn says not buying a word of it. The game finishes at 4 nil and Quinn high fives Eliza and Peyton after they hug Rachel. She feels out of place but in time she knows that can change it's only been a week after all. She needed to show up and then things would change.
"Are you going out with your team, or do you want to grab lunch?" Rachel asks.
"Lunch" Peyton answers and Rachel smiles at her and nods. Lunch it was then.
"Okay. Eliza coach wants to speak to you about trials." Peyton stands next to her grinning from ear to ear knowing what was coming.
"What about Peyton?"
"I already spoke to him. You go ahead Liza." Rachel and Eliza walk over to him and Peyton smiles at Quinn as they stand together. Not a hey nice to see you smile but rather a oh great here we are again alone smile.
"You don't like me very much." Quinn says and waits.
"I just don't know you" Peyton lies.
"No come on. If you are going to be my daughter's best friend, you must be honest. I would hate to think you were a liar" Quinn challenges her.
"Fine, no I don't. My first experience of you is hurting her mum and her. Those words have not disappeared from her mind. You don't just get a fresh start. You hurt the most important person on this planet to me. So, no I don't like you, Mrs. Fabray. I don't trust you. If you hurt, her again I won't beg her to give you another chance no matter how much Rachel asks me to. I love Mama F but not more than Liza. You have a lot to prove to me. Because buying shiny boots doesn't cut it."
"Don't you have a lot to prove to me too." Quinn asks wanting to prove a point she had worked out in that one speech how much Peyton truly cared for her daughter.
"No, I've never hurt her."
"You will all relationships hurt each other. With you two being as close as you are don't you want my blessing even." She watches as Peyton's face changes. It was clear Quinn had worked her out in half a day.
"I have Rachels blessing, I don't need yours. Can I give you a tip Mrs. Fabray?" she asks and Quinn's face morphs into surprised.
"Sure" Quinn says curious.
"Let it go. Because honestly your anger is going to lose you both of them." Peyton advises.
"I don't know what you" Quinn goes to argue.
"Yeah, you do. You love them both, I saw you watching Rachel earlier in the kitchen. I know that look because as you so bluntly put it, I too love someone like that. Don't mess this up your own pride is going to be why you lose them. You left them and now you have a chance one you probably do deserve but not if you're going to stay bitter about something that is too late to change, I don't know why you think you need to be cold they are not out to hurt you they just need a happy ending. Don't hurt my family please, because you could, either leave them alone or open your heart and risk it." Quinn feels a pain in her chest at the words. Peyton was clearly wise beyond her years and clearly loved Quinn's family.
Quinn falters for a moment before shaking her head "I'm trying" she says honestly trying not to let those words hit her too hard.
"I know, if you weren't I wouldn't have bothered saying what I just did" she says and then breaks into a smile seeing Eliza run over.
"Your dad said were going to nationals." Peyton grins and Quinn smiles at the two of them.
"I know I've been dying to tell you. But he wanted to." Peyton says and Eliza nudges.
"We're gonna win"
"Of course, we are" she says being wrapped in a hug and spun around. Eliza puts her down and pulls back realizing they are being watched. For a moment its awkward until Quinn steps in.
"Do you two want to go to lunch without us oldies" Quinn asks and Eliza smiles.
"Can we?"
"Of course, here" Rachel says handing them money. Quinn smiles at them as they look more excited than before.
"Thanks mum thanks Quinn. We will be back by 9."
"I think 10 is okay what do you think Quinn?" Rachel asks and Quinn is taken back by being given the right to set a curfew.
"Yeah 10 and if you need picking up just call." They run off without a second glance and Quinn looks at Rachel. "Peyton is in love with our daughter" she says, and Rachel is caught off guard but smiles. Quinn annoyingly always had been perceptive.
"Yes" she says as they walk to the car. She hadn't wanted to get into this conversation with Quinn she had been careful to stay out of this because it was too close to home her, and Quinn had been their age when they began dating. Peyton reminded her of how she felt at that age.
"Does Eliza have a clue?"
"No. She never has worked it out." I was sure for a while they were dating but then I saw how Peyton looked at her and realised she doesn't.
"How long?"
"I don't know at least a year." She says driving back to the house.
"Wow has she ever told her or tried?"
"I don't know. Eliza has always been so wrapped up in Peyton, but I don't think she knows herself if she likes her back. She has never expressed anything to me." Rachel admits.
"Peyton's deep" Quinn states and Rachel nods.
"She's very grown up. More so than Eliza." She had protected Eliza from growing up fast, she wanted her to enjoy being a kid.
"I hope she doesn't hurt her." Quinn says and Rachel rolls her eyes please there was no way in hell Peyton would hurt her.
"Peyton would never ever hurt our daughter she is smitten."
"No Eliza, I hope Eliza doesn't hurt Peyton." Quinn clarifies and Rachel sadly nods her head because that she could see happening. She was Quinn's daughter after all and when she went HBIC that was nuclear.
"Me too. It sucks having your heart broken. But unfortunately divorce happens and not all friendships or relationships last." Rachel says and Quinn frowns they needed to talk.
"About the divorce," Quinn says as the car stops outside the house.
"Yeah" Rachel says turning to Quinn it's not an easy topic, but she had resigned herself to the fact it was happening, and nothing could change that so she would listen and take on Quinn's points, and she would try make it as easy as possible.
"Can we hold off. I'd like to focus on Eliza and us finding a way to make this work coparenting."
"Yeah of course. But we are separated right as in your not changing your mind?" Rachel wants that clarified and Quinn frowns had she said something confusing.
"Yes of course we are. Why?" Quinn asks her head cocked to the side.
"I have a date on Monday, and it would be weird if we weren't. I take my vows seriously and I." Rachel begins to explain but Quinn stops her.
"No, I understand. Have you dated before?" she asks wanting to know if until now Rachel had held off 14 years was a long time to stay true to someone who left.
"Yes, a few things here and there. Nothing serious honestly but this would be my fourth date with her. Slowly ya know, I like her but its new and I want it to be done right. Would you mind taking care of Eliza?" Rachel asks and Quinn smiles.
"Of course. I'd love to. I'll be round at 5 tomorrow."
"Thanks, see you then and thank you" Rachel says touching Quinn's hand gently she meant it in a comforting way, but the electricity caused her to pull back it was like fire between them. They both say nothing and part ways.
