The next person Quinn talked to was Mercedes. She came over after dinner and Quinn was still in sweats and a Cheerios t-shirt because fuck it she was having a lazy day and being comfortable. (Seeing the t-shirt had made Judy cry because of how grown up her baby was.)

"Hey Cedes, I thought you were showing Anthony around." Quinn stepped aside to allow Mercedes in.

"Oh I spent the whole day showing him around. I took him to Melvin's frozen yogurt, McKinely, the Lima Bean, and Breadstix. He's so exhausted, he's talking football with my dad and brother at home."

Anthony had been to Lima a few times for family occasions but never got the whole Lima experience. No doubt tomorrow would be part two with Glee club.

Quinn walked up to Mercedes after closing the front door and engulfed her in a big hug. She couldn't help but close her eyes for a few seconds, locking the hug into her memory. Mercedes felt soft and like love and security, there was the same fruity shampoo she wore in high school. There had been a time when Quinn couldn't remember things, like how it felt to hug Mercedes or talk fashion with Kurt. But now she did.

Columbus was right, you had to enjoy the little things.

"To what do I owe this surprise visit?" Quinn asked as she put her hair up in a loose ponytail.

She led Mercedes to the living room where she collapsed in the big armchair. Where it stood used to be her dads leather one. He always sat in it, every night, right after work and dinner. But when he moved out Quinn and Judy took it upon themselves to redecorate their house and make it more "them." So now Quinn got her own big chair, blue and fluffy that wrapped around her and made her seem small. She felt like a little kid in it, but safe and loved, unlike how she did in the old furniture. Come to think of it, Santana actually helped her pick out this chair.

Mercedes sat on the corner of the couch closest to Quinn. She seemed just as worn out as she had described Anthony, but she was still smiling brightly. That's how you know when someone is happy to see you, even if they're exhausted or in a rush, they still take time out of their day to see you and smile. That was what being loved was like. Not exasperated sighs or impatient glances or getting kicked out.

"I just felt like the last time we saw each other, one on one, things were a little emotional. And last night didn't feel right, so I thought I'd stop by and see how you were doing." Mercedes explained.

Quinn's heart constructed in her throat from the memory. All the memories of the past three years, and the events of five-seven years that led up to those three years. She had moved on from then, she was better now. She was healthy and sober. But she still didn't like having to think back on those dark years and everything she had to fix.

"Mercedes! I didn't know you were stopping by. Have you eaten? We just ate but I can get back out any food." Judy Fabray came trapezing into the living room.

Life had been fairly kind to Judy. Her hair was thin and nearly white but still that gorgeous Fabray hair. Her skin was nearing the wrinkling side and her eyes were now a watery color. She took care of herself though (she always had, aside from the drinking which she quit after Russell left) and was happy (ever since the divorce) so she didn't look all that bad for a 50 something year old.

Mercedes got up to hug Judy. Quinn couldn't help but smile at the interaction. Judy had always been extremely grateful for Mercedes and her family and even felt in debt to them for being there for Quinn when she wasn't. Mercedes and her family had to constantly tell Judy it was fine and that Quinn's happiness was payment enough. Mercedes had become a part of the Fabray family, and same for Quinn with the Jones'.

"Thank you Momma Fabray but I already had dinner."

"Come by later this week, I'm going to be making my famous chicken parmesan casserole." Judy's eyes danced matching her dazzling smile.

Quinn looked back down, hating what she almost ruined. She had risked so much, so many moments and relationships, chances at family dinners and glee reunions, all for a stupid fucking pill or two or hundred. Forgiveness was part of the healing process, but sometimes she still got mad at herself. 'One day at a time.'

"I'll hold you to that."

Judy glanced down at her daughter who seemed to be in another timeline, reliving a different moment. Her eyes were on them but her focus wasn't.

"Well, I'll leave you girls to catch up." Judy leaned down and pressed a kiss to Quinn's cheek, her hand on the other side of her face.

Quinn leaned in to the kiss, her eyes cast downward in a blush. Receiving affection, especially in front of people, still wasn't her strong suit. (High school romance didn't count because she used that as ammunition for praise and popularity.) She smiled and turned to meet her moms love-filled eyes. Knowing eyes that had learned from past mistakes and were there for Quinn when she desperately needed her, eyes that loved her and supported every step of the way. Maybe Quinn had always been a momma's girl, but over the years Judy had become her friend and sometimes even her hero.

Judy smiled and walked away. Immediately a weight felt lifted from Quinn's worn and raggedy shoulders. Sometimes actions spoke more than words ever could.

"As much as I missed having my sister around, it was nice seeing you come back here and fix things with your mom." Mercedes spoke from her spot on the couch.

Quinn smiled at Mercedes and delved further back into her chair. 'Best damn decision I ever made.' Quinn was definitely taking the chair when her mom passed away.

"Good things happen, you just have to be patient." Quinn recited her mantra.

Mercedes seemed to pick up on there being a deeper meaning to the phrase but only smiled and nodded her head in agreement.

"I'm doing a lot better though. I'm great actually, I have been for a while. Being here and not wanting to run back to New York is proof of that." Quinn smiled cheekily at the end.

Being able to say she was okay and actually mean it for the first time in her entire life was such a euphoric feeling. And the fact that she was more than okay, that she was great and genuinely happy, she still couldn't wrap her mind around it sometimes. But she didn't feel guilty about it or think that she didn't deserve to be happy or have a good life. She deserved love and happiness just like everyone else.

It took 15 years of telling herself she deserved those things, and three years of actually meaning it, for her to believe it.

"I'm happy you're in a good place Quinn, I really am."

Quinn didn't know what to say to that. The sincerity in Mercedes's voice and emotion in her eyes was stifling. Looking at Mercedes with such a straight, serious expression and flickering somber eyes told a story of its own. In Mercedes' eyes was a story, a story where Quinn died and the glee club had to experience another loss.

Puck or Rachel would have to tell Shelby, and Shelby and Puck would have to think of a way to tell Beth. Do they tell her right away? Do they wait until she's 16? After graduating high school? Would there be an auditorium named after her? Or gymnasium? Judy would probably start drinking again, and Frannie would completely shut herself off from Judy. No one would tell Russel until the funeral was a week away. Glee club would have to come together again and sing songs to remember Quinn. Soon Quinn would become a permanent ache in the hearts of those she touched and would only be a memory.

Quinn saw that all and hated that Mercedes had to think of all the possibilities that would come with the grieving process. Now that she saw what Mercedes did, thought and felt the same hysteria, she couldn't help but populate assumptions of her own. Would Sam write a song about the first girl that he loved and broke his heart? Would Puck visit Beth more or name his next kid after her? Would Mercedes or Rachel dedicate an award they won to her? What about Kurt, or Brittany? How would Mr.Schue cope? And Santana.

"Thanks Cedes." Quinn's voice was thick with emotion. She hoped that her eyes said everything her voice failed to.

Mercedes' nod and watery smile told her it did.

Quinn smiled and shook her head earning a chuckle from the pop star. Quinn wiped at her watery eyes and sniffed along with Mercedes. Quinn ran her hand up her neck and to the back of her neck to rub it. Both women started thinking about how different life was 14 years ago.

No one knew about Blaine or Sam or Sugar, Joe, or Rory's existence, Lauren was just the girl on the wrestling team, half of the glee club had a slushee facial on a daily, Finn was a closeted sweet kid jock, Brittany was hot and popular but no one, and Quinn, Santana, and Puck were assholes. Mr.Schue was in a manipulated marriage to Terri and Sue was only a psychotic cheerleading coach.

Then, somehow, they had all come together to make something special. There were slushees and Rocky Horror, fights for solos and betrayals, drama and music-so much music. Now Rachel Berry was a Broadway star and Mercedes was a pop star, Mr.Schue was the principal of an arts school, Sue was vice president of the United fucking States of America, Brittany was a genius, Marley was a famous singer songwriter, Kurt and Santana were out and proud, Quinn and Puck had a kid together, Sue walked out of Rachel's first show and proceeded to have sex all of her apartment, Roderick won America's Got Talent. There were breakups and makeups, bitch slaps and competitions and trophies. They lost a member of their family.

But through it all they became a family. A bunch of misfits and seemingly jerks became a family and made something truly remarkable. And so much happened in between it all. It honestly was unbelievable.

Both women started giggling soon followed by full blown laughter. They laughed until they cried and their sides and cheekbones ached and they couldn't breathe. It took them five minutes to collect themselves again.

"Whoo. I haven't had a good laugh like that since Rachel fell on stage at one of my shows."

"Gosh I think I saw that." Quinn barked a breathless laugh, her eyes twinkling.

"She went down like a pancake."

They both laughed again at the memory of Rachel Berry falling flat on her ass in front of thousands of people.

"So what have you been up to today miss thang? Doesn't look like much." Mercedes asked after they had collected themselves again.

"Just sleeping. I was still jet lagged from yesterday and didn't get much sleep last night." Quinn's mind flashed back to her and Santana all tangled in sheets and limbs. Her skin burned where Santana had touched her, which was pretty much everywhere. "That dancing wore me out too." Quinn added just for safe measure. It wasn't that she was ashamed of Santana, they just hadn't talked about telling other people.

Mercedes nodded her head. "I feel you girl. But after going on tour five times, a night of dancing with Rachel Berry is nothing."

"Just be happy you don't already have the back of a 60 year old." Quinn chuckled.

It was a joke but Mercedes still seemed upset by it, like Quinn was still bitter over her car crash from senior year. It sucked but she wasn't bitter. In college she was, tremendously so. It's what led to her addiction in the first place (the start of it at least, Quinn's life was so fucked up it probably would have happened one way or another). But now she was comfortable enough to make jokes about it.

Quinn ran her hand along her neck and moved her hair to the side to get to the back of her neck. She gently rubbed her neck and fluttered her eyes closed briefly. Mercedes' eyes widened comically at the sign of the hickey on Quinn's collarbone where her shirt had been pulled down.

"Lucy Quinn Fabray," Quinn's eyes jerked open in alarm by the use of her first name. "Is that a hickey I see?"

'Shit.' Again, it wasn't like her and Santana were trying to hide what they did. Hell, Sam told the tea party club that she had sex with a Latina lesbian! She didn't care that he told them then and she probably wouldn't care now. It's just getting it out herself first that bugged her. After she said it it was fine. She could say it again, tell others, and they could tell anyone they wanted if they really wanted to. Beginnings are always the hardest part.

She considered using the curling iron excuse but that never worked. Maybe if she had actually curled her hair it would hold some power. Knowing there was no escape she decided to just be honest. That's what the new her was all about anyway; honesty.

"Yes, it is."

"Who the hell did you hook up with after being in Lima for barely even 24 hours?" For the moment Mercedes wasn't putting two and two together. (The only two single people in Glee club were Quinn and Santana and the only person Quinn could have possibly seen between Breadstix last night and dinner today.)

"Oh please Mercedes, don't sound so scandalized. Everyone hooks up at weddings and reunions."

Mercedes narrowed her eyes and subconsciously inched closer to the blonde. Quinn knew there was no escaping this interrogation and the chances of Mercedes deciphering Santana as the person Quinn "hooked up" with were high. Mercedes was a queen at gossiping and knew how to get information out of anyone.

In reality Santana probably wouldn't care, when Sam talked to her about the wedding all she did was boast the whole time about how she made Quinn come harder than Puckerman or Professor Patches. Unless this was something serious Santana wouldn't care. It was just fun sex.

Yet something told Quinn that it was more than just fun sex. Maybe it was something serious. She knew that the only person to ever challenge her and really see her for herself was Santana. They seemed like such an unlikely pair, they'd probably crash and burn before they even begun because they were so alike. But Santana had been gentle with her the night of Mr.Schue's "wedding." And when they hung out as freshmen in high school they actually got along, like how her and Mercedes do.

Truth be told, the only person Quinn had seen romantically since college started was Santana. If the Latina wanted more than just a platonic relationship then Quinn would be more than willing to give it a chance. But all Quinn had to go off of were casual nights in bed, some text messages, and several encounters where she was as high as a kite so she really couldn't tell if this was something serious or just fun sex.

Which was why she couldn't decide if she wanted Mercedes and the rest of glee club to know. She didn't know what talking to Santana about telling other people would do to the situation either further complicating the issue.

"So it was someone from the reunion?" Mercedes speculated.

Quinn puffed out her cheeks, a very Santana like reaction. "Yes."

Mercedes scrunched her face up in concentration. 'If Santana were here she'd make a joke about her looking constipated.' Quinn refrained from sighing out loud by her bringing Santana into every situation.

"Is it someone we know?"

"This isn't 20 questions Mercedes, go ahead and ask who it is." Quinn smiled lightly.

Mercedes raised an eyebrow and looked at Quinn as if she had been possessed by an alien. She was sure it probably seemed that way since she said Mercedes could ask and it wasn't in her threatening HBIC voice. Curiosity beat out caution in the end.

"So who was it?"

This was it. All or nothing bring it on as Brittany liked to say.

"I was with Santana last night." She wouldn't be Quinn Fabray if she wasn't proper about it.

"I knew it! You two were all over each other last night!" Mercedes exclaimed.

Quinn made an incredulous look and slightly shook her head. "We were not!" She said outraged.

Mercedes gave Quinn her famous deadpanned look that said, really? Come on now. "You would not stop staring at each other the whole night. At one point Santana was so focused on you she actually laughed at Rachel's joke."

"They're also best friends, which is still so strange to say." Quinn ended furrowing her eyebrows.

Mercedes mimicked the same expression and nodded her head in agreement. "Yeah."

They both pondered the supernova that was Santana being best friends with Kurt and Rachel. Mercedes quickly shook her head and fixed Quinn with a very pointed look that left Quinn feeling like she was dissecting her soul.

"What's the deal with you two?"

"There is no deal with us."

After their first time together it didn't happen again until the rebooted New Directions went to Regionals. And soon after that her addiction started taking over, so a lot of their time together is tainted. There were definitely awkward moments and a few arguments, but the sex was always great and there were nights where things were like how they were before sophomore year in high school, so Quinn wasn't all sure if there was a deal with them or not.

"Quinn, do you think it's a coincidence you both are the only two single members in glee club?"

"We're not in high school anymore Mercedes. Wether or not someone in glee club is in a relationship or not isn't a big deal. There's no drama surrounding it or some lesson to be focused on for a week. It is what it is."

A voice inside Quinn's head told her she was just trying to convince herself to not make a thing out of this. If she did then she would try to pursue a relationship with Santana and that could lead to heartbreak. The urge to protect her heart was still strong, which only made sense after always being treated like walmart trash and then getting thrown to the curb by her parents and never having a concrete relationship. Sam was her closest chance at a concrete and healthy relationship which terrified her so she fucked it up. She didn't want that happening again.

"I know you're afraid of getting hurt again, your heart has suffered enough damage in your life. But you're not the same girl you were 12 years ago, neither is Santana. I for one don't think it's a coincidence you two are the only two single and at the same time, and I think you'd make a great couple. An odd one but great." Mercedes smiled teasingly at the end.

Quinn quirked her lips up in a small smile responding to the joke before sighing heavily. If only life and relationships could be as simple and easy as Mercedes made it sound. 'But then life would be boring and no one would learn anything so...'

"We had sex two times, why are you so adamant about us getting together?" Quinn asked with furrowed eyebrows.

All Mercedes is aware of is two times but still, there are plenty of people who are friends with benefits and it never goes beyond that. (Brittany and Santana don't count because it was never just that to begin with.) Had Santana said something to Mercedes, or someone else and Mercedes just got wind of it? Are other people speculating too? 'Probably with the way Mercedes is talking. Wouldn't be surprising considering no one in Glee club can keep their mouths shut.'

Mercedes smiled which said she knew more than what she was going to reveal. 'Of course.' Quinn sighed exasperatedly.

"I think a lot of your arguing and fights in high school were the consequence of the unresolved sexual tension between you two."

"There wasn't-" Quinn started outraged. Her cheeks were hot and her neck was red with embarrassment.

"And you guys got along a lot better in college." Mercedes went on as if Quinn hadn't spoke. "I know the last couple of years were, rough, but you guys were friends. And from what Rachel and Kurt said and what you said to me, incapacitated or not, I think there's something between you two."

Quinn's mind was swirling with this new batch of information. Did that mean Santana had talked about her? She should have known the "few" times they had sex at the Hummelpezberry residence Kurt and Rachel would dig their noses into their business. Quinn understood, they were all four friends and Santana was their roommate so of course they'd ask questions. Still, it unnerved Quinn knowing Kurt and Rachel talked to Mercedes and probably the rest of glee club.

And what was that about being incapacitated? She knew for sure Allison and Lydia knew about her and Santana (and her therapist) but Mercedes? Pretty much all of glee club knew about their night at Mr.Schue's "wedding" (and now probably all the other time) but no one ever said anything. Really only Allison and Lydia did. Quinn didn't think she talked about Santana like that with anyone else. 'Either I'm forgetting or I was on more drugs more times than I thought.'

"I'll let you think about it later, for now lets just catch up. What else have you been up to the past three years?" Mercedes clapped her hands on her thighs and smiled brightly at Quinn.

Quinn was once again thankful that Mercedes was her best friend. She never pushed her too hard and knew Quinn's limits and was there for her when she needed it. Mercedes was the best and deserved more appreciation from Quinn the blonde felt.

Quinn smiled thankfully and adjusted herself in her seat so she was ready for their catching up session.

(AN)

So sorry for not posting for two weeks! I've been busy writing two other Quinntana fanfics and publishing one of them. The one I published was a three part one shot for Halloween. It's not longer Halloween but you can read it if you want! I don't really praise myself on my writing but I actually think I did pretty good on the one shot.

I posted this today to make up for one of the weeks. I'm going to post another one Thursday to make up for the second week. On Saturday will be the regular update I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. I don't really like this chapter but it's my favorite title and I'm on the 30th chapter so