Chapter 7 – time for a tough talk

"Hey" Quinn states making Eliza jump a little it was her stern tone. The authoritative one she heard the first time she corrected her name to Quinn.

"Hi" she says a spoonful of ice cream in her mouth already trying to lighten the conversation before she gets in trouble.

"We can't ruin every one of your mums' dates ya know." Quinn adds trying to make sure her daughter is still aware this doesn't change things; they are still together on this.

"I know it's just Kitty was a snob and she only wanted mum for her money." Eliza adds rolling her eyes it was no secret that Rachel was a catch, partner at her law firm, attractive and clearly doing well for herself.

"That's not all she wanted trust me your mother is hot any woman sane would want her." Quinn lets slip tonight was the first time since she got back that she was reminded how flawless Rachel was. Her not trying was beautiful but when she dressed up it was breathtaking.

"Do you?"

"I that's not an appropriate question." Quinn answers flustered.

"So that's a yes, I saw it it's okay I get it. Your married of course there's still a spark." Eliza adds throwing gas to the flames. She knew exactly what she was doing as Quinn folded her arms across her chest and raised her eyebrow it was signature Quinn.

"We don't have a spark we don't even know each other Liza I am here for you and us not your mum and I. Please don't get your hopes up."

"Okay" she says disappointed but still intrigued for the future. She smiles "how did you know this is my favourite ice cream?" she asks trying to lighten the mood, Quinn had clearly drawn a line in the last conversation it was a no-go area, she figured she would move on to something light before she asked her next big question.

"Because it's mine and you are just like me."

"If mum is mum, what are you?"

"I can be Quinn you seem comfortable with that." Quinn answers, she had been reading parenting books, well step parenting books because that's the only relatable topic they don't tend to have books on meeting your stolen child on amazon. Every book told her to move at Eliza's pace, so she was trying.

"It's not fair though is it you didn't want this to happen like this. What would I have called you?"

"Well, we were going with mama and mum." Quinn states remembering their plans with Jamie, it still hurt every time she thought about him, all they could have been.

"So, your mama?" Liza says and Quinn frowns.

"Is that what you want to call me?" she asks her daughter because she wasn't sure it even felt right now, she had heard it.

"Well Quinn seems cruel and harsh" Eliza adds she was clearly trying to work through this in her mind too. Like Quinn it seemed they both felt it was off.

"Do whatever feels right we both need to build this relationship up" she says to her daughter Rachel watches them talk from the doorway and smiles at them. She had never really wanted to keep Quinn away, but she was terrified Quinn would take Eliza from her and her fear beat out her love.

"Okay thanks Quinn. What do you want to do tonight?"

"I'd like to get to know you and talk, if possible, maybe watch a movie when you're bored of me."

"Okay can mum join us?" she asks, and Quinn nods her head.

"We did just ruin her date it only seems fair." They turn to see Rachel in the doorway, and she rolls her eyes at their cheeky grins.

"Come on then let's go sit down diner?" she asks and Quinn nods quickly it had been years since Rachel had cooked for her, but she had thought about her food every month. Rachel was a superb cook, and she never could forget her…..

"Tortellini?" she says and Quinn nods again like Rachel read her mind.

"Oh, I love mums tortellini she makes it for me when I do well in something."

"Me too. But as your skinny it means you're an underachiever. If you had tortellini every time you succeeded, you would be massive." Quinn jokes and Liza laughs

"Well, I go gym you could join me sometime looks like you've never seen a set of weights." Eliza says challenging Quinn.

"Eliza Henderson Fabray" Rachel says and Quinn laughs.

"You can't be on her side all the time mum." Eliza complains how was she supposed to win if she always got in trouble. Quinn was way ruder she thought rolling her eyes.

"Yes, I can when you're rude."

"I was joking."

"Yeah, Rach it's fine she clearly only does her arms and misses leg day with those chicken legs." Quinn remarks smirking when Eliza's jaw hits the floor.

"Quinn Alana Fabray" Rachel says shocked at the response. It was ridiculous they were both acting like children.

"Oh, you got jokes you think your funny" Liza says, and Quinn nods her head.

"You think you got your brutality from your mum na that's all me I have fire and sarcasm. She's got the beauty."

"Not to forget the brains" Rachel adds, and Quinn laughs at her shaking her head.

"Apparently, she has fire too Quinn guess you forgot." Eliza grins.

"I never forgot how could I? she's unforgettable." Quinn says smiling at her wife. "Anyway you, this is about you not me and your mother. What do you like to do?"

"I am good at math which I get from mum not you." Eliza adds keeping Quinn on her toes.

"Well, I see she has told you all of my faults." Rachel frowns until Quinn shakes her head at her. It was a joke but maybe it was too soon. Especially since they had never quite got past the last argument.

"I joined the debate club like you to I figured I should do what's in my genes."

"Yeah, I can see that you are very like me and your mother." The perfect mix Quinn thinks as she watches the two of them as they eat, their mannerisms were identical.

She smiles "I thought you didn't care about us for so many years."

"There was not a day I don't think about your mother and what we could have had. This life. I dreamed of it for years and then I resigned myself to the fact she was happy over here and I was happy in America." Quinn explains and she sees Eliza look up at her a question on her lips.

"Are you happy in America?"

"I am content, I can't say I'm as happy as I would like to be" she answers honestly. Rachel looks at her and smiles softly. She knows exactly what Quinn means its hard being alone and it's even harder when you know what true love is.

"Why move so far?"

"Losing Jamie your brother was beyond any pain I can explain you lose a part of yourself when that happens. I needed to leave the place that held so many traumas. This house this place it was too much for me."

"Why not take mum too?" Eliza asks and it's the worst question because Quinn had thought about it for years why she didn't come back for her or take her away from here see if it helped them.

"We weren't agreeing, we fought we hurt each other emotionally we should have been together, but we were torn apart, and we forgot who we were we both acted out and lost ourselves." Quinn says and Rachel won't look at her which is more telling than she would care to admit. Quinn knows she messed up and that Rachel although in pain never pushed her away Quinn did it to herself. She drove the wedge and Rachel eventually let her go.

"Would you want to come and live here. If I wasn't a reason?" Eliza asks and Quinn hates the question because it doesn't matter now. What matters is she has a daughter who wants and needs her. She looks at Rachel who is staring at her food. Fuck she thinks.

"I don't know honestly. But you are a reason and that outweighs everything else. You are the most important thing in my life now. But I do have a life in America." Quinn answers Rachel had told her it was best to be honest and she knows she is right, but it still felt like she was stabbing a knife into Rachels heart because she didn't come back for Rachel, and she probably never would have.

"What does it mean for us?' Quinn looks up at Rachel.

"We could split custody, or we could move to be with Quinn."

"What? no"

"It's options we all need to work together to make this work sweetheart Quinn loves you and she wants you in her life too. I was terrible for taking that from her for so long. She's missed enough but that's for us to discuss in a while."

"No, I have friends here family here I don't want to go America." Eliza says openly she wasn't going to hold back on this, her life was here. How dare Quinn think she could change that.

"I would never make you" Quinn adds surprising them all. Eliza smiles but she looks to Rachel, and she immediately drops the smile.

"She would" she says looking at Rachel who nods her head.

"I would because I believe you knowing Quinn is for the best." Rachel finally says she had held her tongue throughout this, but she needed to be honest she couldn't let Eliza lose Quinn now.

"Do you want a kid?" Eliza asks and Quinn looks shocked.

"Yes, I have always wanted you."

"Okay and what if after these 2 weeks I decide I don't want to know you." It's cold and calculated and Rachel knows exactly what her daughter is doing she is pushing Quinn away because she is scared. Scared to lose her home, scared to deal with moving, leaving her life here.

"Then I'll support your mother with money for you of which I owe her a lot already and I'll check in with her on how you are doing but I'd stay away from you. I would hope you would still allow me photos every year just so I am aware of how you are and what you look like. But of course, it would be up to you." Quinn answers its kind and soft but also utterly ridiculous and Rachel must stop this conversation.

"No that would never happen you can kick her out of your life once your 18 until that time we are both your parents Eliza that is not an option. Quinn is amazing and she deserves more of a chance than two weeks. What she just said is very noble and kind but never happening. I've taken too much time already and you won't take any more. Do you understand me?" Rachel finally stops and it's the harshest Quinn had ever heard Rachels tone, it was colder than their last argument.

"Yes, mum I just wanted to know the answer. I wouldn't do that she is just like you said strong but ultimately, she puts herself last like you have my whole life. You both would have made amazing parents if you stayed together. I guess Jamie and I both lost out in our own ways. I need a few minutes" she says walking upstairs.