Disclaimer: I, by no means, claim to own anything remotely related to the Glee Universe. No copyright infringement intended.
AN: Happy New Year, good people! I hope 2020 is treating you well so far. While my intention was to update all my ongoing stories when I got back, I was kind of struck by some inescapable and unavoidable Mom!Quinn feels, and so here we are. The initial idea comes from a handful of places, I suspect, but I've taken it and run with it. Worry not, though, because other updates on my WIPs are on the way. They probably won't be as regular as in the past, because I REALLY need to graduate, but I promise nothing is ever going to be abandoned. Feel free to talk to me on Twitter if I disappear for too long, though - this is explicit permission. Cool. Please enjoy.
I
If anyone were to ask Quinn Fabray just what she was thinking, she'd be unable to answer.
She wasn't thinking, maybe, because even she can't bring herself to rationalise just what possesses her to kidnap someone else's children.
God.
She's pretty sure she's just committed a felony.
The day, itself, starts off as normally as it possibly can.
Quinn is new to town, just moved into a house she inherited from her recently-passed grandmother, who decided to stick it to her own family and leave Quinn the sole beneficiary of her world's possessions.
Quinn met her a handful of times when she was still a child, but their relationship really solidified itself once Quinn left home - well, was forced to leave home.
Now, it seems Quinn has lost the only family willing to accept her.
Well.
The only family older than her.
Quinn is woken, quite unceremoniously, by her two housemates. Sasha, a German Shepard with far too much energy, and Lex, a golden boy with even more bluster.
Quinn is practically smothered in her own bed by the two wriggling beasts, and she actually has to fight them off before she suffocates. Her alarm hasn't even gone off yet, and she really doesn't want to die before she's had a chance to enjoy her morning coffee.
"Mommy, Mom, Mom," Lex practically shouts in her ear. "Wake up, wake up, wake up."
Quinn reaches blindly to cover his mouth with her hand and push him away, but she ends up with dog slobber all over her palm instead.
Of course.
Lex laughs, loud and joyous, and Quinn can't even bring herself to be mad.
"Get off me, you ogre," Quinn grumbles, rolling over and taking her two beasts with her. Sasha ends up on the floor, and Lex dangles off the edge of the California King bed, his laughter multiplied.
"Mommy, no!"
Quinn reaches for him, tickling at his sides until he, too, ends up dumped on the floor with a thud. She panics for just a beat, before he bounces up, smiles toothily at her and says, "You promised me pancakes."
She sighs. "Lex, it's barely seven in the morning."
"You promised."
"We don't even have ingredients for pancakes."
"Then you have to go shopping."
"Me?"
"I'm staying with Sash."
"Like hell you are," she says, forcing herself into a sitting position.
Lex positively beams at her. "That's a dollar in the swear jar," he says, sounding far too excited for this early in the morning. She's always wondered if he's really her son, because she sure as hell isn't a morning person. Not even a little bit.
"Yeah yeah," she says, waving him off. "I've already started on your college fund, it seems." It's a joke she makes, but she's actually already had that particular fund going since those two lines appeared on a terrifying pregnancy test almost eight years ago.
This probably isn't the future she imagined for herself as a teenager, but she wouldn't have it any other way. Lex is everything.
"Mom," he whines. "Pancakes."
Quinn rolls onto her back and groans loudly.
"Please."
She won't deny him, of course, but she's determined to teach him patience. "Mommy needs to shower first," she eventually says. "Think you can switch on the coffee machine for me and entertain yourself with cartoons while you wait?"
Lex seems to consider it. "And then pancakes?"
"And then we'll go out for pancakes," she assures him. "And stop at the grocery store on the way back."
"Okay," he says, looking serious.
"Start a list," she instructs. He might be the man of the house, but she tries her best to involve him in domestic things that are stereotypically tailored towards girls as much as possible. Quinn definitely said fuck you to gender roles a long time ago.
Lex does a little excited jump, and then bolts from the room, Sasha hot on his tail. Quinn can hear their steps on the wooden floors, and she can't help her wince when she hears a heavy thud a beat later.
"I'm fine!" Lex yells out, and Quinn laughs to herself as she forces herself out of bed and stumbles towards her ensuite.
This house is larger than anything they've lived in before, and she's still getting used to it. Switching from Connecticut to Ohio wasn't ever truly on her list of life moves, but it seemed like the time. After the year she and Lex have had, she knew they needed a change, and her grandmother provided her the opportunity.
Quinn rushes through a shower, not wanting to make Lex wait too long. She's learned the quickest ways to get clean since having a child, but it's a relief to have him old enough that she can leave him in a different room and actually focus on her self-care without worrying too much.
Once she's done, she throws on some denim shorts and an old Panic! At the Disco t-shirt with some open sandals. She leaves her hair loose, wanting it to air-dry while they're out and about. Lex always seems to like the way it curls when she does, tucking himself into her body and playing with the strands at the end of a long day.
Quinn passes through the kitchen to get a cup of coffee before she follows the sound of laughter into the living room. One of the things she's going to have to get used to in this older home is the lack of open-plan living. She's so used to being able to see Lex whenever she's in the kitchen.
Well.
Maybe she'll consider a renovation project once she meets her latest deadline.
Quinn leans against the doorframe and watches Lex laugh himself silly at something on the television screen, his left hand absently scratching the top of Sasha's head.
"Hey, Baby Shark," she calls out, and he spins around fast enough that she's worried he'll give himself whiplash.
Lex grins at her, and then lets out a roar as he jumps to his feet. "Mommy, can we go now?"
She nods once. "Is that what you're wearing?" she asks, looking at the outfit he's chosen for the day. It's her favourite part, really, getting to witness the person he's growing into. She allows him to pick his clothing - within reason - and his sense of style is rather similar to hers.
Poor guy.
Lex looks down at himself: khaki shorts and a black Hulk t-shirt. He's currently barefoot, but that's a problem easily fixed. "Yes," he declares a moment later.
"Teeth brushed?" she asks.
Lex nods, beaming to show her his pearly-whites. "Minty fresh."
Quinn loves him so. "Okay, okay," she says. "Get your shoes on, make sure Sash has some food, and I'll meet you at the front door, okay?"
"Okay," he says, and then practically sprints from the room.
Quinn chuckles to herself, and then looks at Sasha, who's comfortably draped on the carpet. "Come on, girl," she says. "Let's get you out to do your business before we head out."
Quinn knows she's going to have to install a dog flap in the next few days, just to give Sasha some freedom. They're all still getting used to the house, so she knows she's going to have to keep an eye on how their dog adjusts.
How Lex adjusts.
How she adjusts.
Sasha is usually good about doing her business, and their backyard is large and sparse. Quinn's sure Sasha's going to love it once she has the opportunity to explore. Maybe in the afternoon.
Quinn rinses her coffee cup once she's done, and then gathers her keys and purse before waiting at the front door. One sweep of the front room and dining room tells her they still have quite a few boxes to unpack.
In general, they don't have nearly enough stuff to fill the house, but it helped that there was already furniture for them, even if Quinn donated most of it.
She's in the middle of planning out the changes she wants to make to the house - just to put her stamp on it - when Lex comes shooting down the stairs.
"Slow down, Kiddo," she automatically says, not wanting another trip to the Emergency Room. She's not even entirely sure where it is, which is something she should probably rectify.
Lex skids to a stop in front of her, a SnapBack on his head and his feet in a black pair of Converse. "Officer Alexander Lucas Fabray, reporting for duty," he says dramatically, saluting.
Quinn laughs. "Where's the list, Officer Fabray?" she asks.
His eyes widen and he squeaks, rushing off again. God, she has no idea where he gets the energy. She's pretty sure her coffee hasn't yet kicked in for her. Still, he's back in less than a minute, a piece of paper in his hand.
"Thank you, kind sir," she says, taking it from him and studying it.
Captain Crunch, Milk, Skittles, Coffee for Mommy, More Milk, Popcorn, Pizza, Soap.
Did she mention how much she loves her baby boy?
"It's a good start," she says, opening the front door and waving him through. "You just forgot all the vegetables."
He gives her a look that is pure mischief. "Pizza has vegetables."
Well, he's not wrong there.
Quinn's lucky to have a two-car garage, but her second car isn't arriving for at least another month when her friends from New Haven are scheduled to pay a visit. Not that Quinn thinks she would even be using the garage, or the car.
Now, though, her practical Volvo SC90 is parked in the driveway, where it's been since they got into Lima two days ago.
Lex knows not to question her about sitting in the backseat, so getting on the road is smooth. She switches on the radio, and they sing along to random songs as she drives through a town she's visited only twice in her life. Once as a child, and again for her grandmother's will reading - which, admittedly, was an entire experience all in itself.
It seems different now.
"We're going to have to go exploring soon," Quinn tells Lex, passing by what looks like a bowling alley. She's going to have to learn what things people can do for fun here, because even she knows she's not enough to keep her son entertained for hours on end.
"Tomorrow?" he asks hopefully.
"As long as you don't wake me this early," she teases.
"Promise?"
Promises are always so serious when it comes to her son, and she's always done her best to keep them. "I promise."
Lex falls silent then, and Quinn glances at him through her rearview mirror. She hopes he's not remembering the last person who made a promise to him. Today is supposed to be a good day.
Quinn pulls into the first diner's parking lot she sees a few minutes later, eyeing the sign with a small smile. Rose's Diner. "This look okay?" she asks Lex.
"As long as they have pancakes."
Quinn opens her door. "Let's check it out, then."
They have pancakes.
And bacon.
And lots of maple syrup.
It's really the perfect breakfast, and Lex is back to his animated self within minutes. Quinn eighty-sixes the milkshake, but he gets a glass of milk to her coffee, and he's suitably pleased, even giving himself a milk moustache.
Their waitress, Marley, takes a liking to him from the moment he says he likes her peace sign earrings. Quinn always tells him it's okay to hand out compliments and let people know what he likes about them, because there's nothing wrong with spreading positivity. He's taken it to heart, it seems, and he even gets an extra pancake for his troubles.
Quinn checks Google for the nearest grocery store, but ends up asking Marley where the best place to go for buying in bulk is. She's planning on stocking up the pantry with all the essentials, and Marley points her in the right direction.
"My mom usually gets whatever we need here from there," Marley says, smiling warmly.
"This is your mom's place?" Lex asks, bouncing in his seat.
Marley nods.
"Is she the chef?"
"The one and only."
"Awesome," he says in wonder.
Quinn looks from him to Marley. "Well, our compliments to the chef," she says. "I'm sure we'll be back."
"We tend to have a few theme nights," Marley says. "Monday is a two-for-one burger, and Wednesday is pie night, if you're interested in trying those out. Every second Thursday is an open mic, as well, which is always good fun."
"We'll definitely check them out," Quinn says. "We're new to town, so we're looking to see what things we can get up to before the rat starts school in September."
Marley's smile grows. "Welcome to Lima," she says. "How are you liking it so far?"
Quinn puffs out a breath. "It's going well," she says. "But, then again, it's been only two days, so anything could happen."
"I like it," Lex says, putting the last of his pancakes in his mouth. "It's warmer than New Haven."
Marley's eyebrows rise. "You're from out of state?"
Quinn nods slowly, not really comfortable with divulging too much about their lives to a stranger. "It's definitely smaller here."
"It'll grow on you," Marley assures. "If you're looking for stuff to do, I can probably put a list together for you," she offers a moment later.
"Oh, you don't have to - "
"I want to," Marley interrupts gently. "You can just stop by here for some pie tonight, and you'll get a super fun list as a bonus."
Quinn laughs. "Does your mom know you're such a good marketer?"
Marley's smile fades a little, but Quinn says nothing about it. "Make sure you let her know," she jokes, and then startles when a customer calls for her from across the diner. "I should get to that," she says.
"Of course," Quinn says, and then glances at Lex's empty plate. "Can we please get the check whenever you're ready?"
"I'll get right on it," Marley says, and then leaves them to it.
Quinn looks at Lex. "Satisfied?" she asks.
He nods vigorously, dramatically rubbing his tummy. "They were so good, Mommy."
"Better than mine?"
Lex gives it some serious thought before he shakes his head. "Not better," he finally says. "Just, different."
What a little politician, ever the diplomat.
When they're ready to go - Quinn leaving Marley a tip large enough to make her blush - Lex asks the teenager if he can give her a hug, and she looks startled by the question.
"Consent is important," Lex says, sounding so, so serious.
Marley blinks, and then nods. "Of course, Lex," she says, and then beams when Lex gives her a quick hug before he heads to the door, dutifully waiting for his mother before walking out.
Quinn smiles at Marley. "Later, Little Rose," she says, waving once, and then heads to the door as well. She kisses the top of Lex's head before they head out, because she is so, so proud of him.
Quinn works very hard at being the best mother she can be. A lot of people have told her that the most she can hope for is a child who is happy and healthy, and she would agree with that.
It's just that she wants more for him. Happiness is all fine and dandy, but what if the people around you aren't? Then what? Which is why she's tried to show Lex that even the little things can make a difference in other people's lives.
The super store is exactly where Marley said it would be, and Quinn sends Lex to fetch a cart while she grabs a catalog to check for any specials. She keeps an eye on him, watching as he takes the time to find one with properly working wheels.
He's the cutest, really.
Once he's at her side again, she asks, "Game plan?"
"Pizza."
Quinn laughs. "Let's go aisle by aisle," she says. "We have quite a few things to get."
Lex hops onto the end of the cart, facing her, and Quinn gets them moving. Normally, he doesn't enjoy shopping, but Quinn likes to send him to fetch things to keep him interested.
They manage to get all that was already on the list, and then everything she's mentally catalogued. Trash bags and foil and potatoes and garlic and so much milk.
The cart is piled to its top by the time they pick up a few boxes of frozen pizza, and Quinn is a little flushed when they finally get to the checkout. Lex tosses in a few chocolate bars while the cashier is tilling up, and Quinn pretends not to notice.
The final total is higher than she expects, but she hasn't had to think very hard about being able to afford things in quite a few years now. She's comfortable, particularly after her inheritance. She's made sure to be able to provide for her son, and she hopes, one day, he'll be able to want for nothing. It's a dream she has, and she's working towards it.
Getting home is another mission, and Lex feigns exhaustion once they pull into their driveway.
"Na ah," Quinn says. "Help me get this stuff in the house, and then you can nap."
"But Mommy," he whines. "I'm tired."
Quinn ignores him as she gets out of the car and opens the back of the SUV, just managing to catch the melon they bought before it rolls right out onto the concrete. She grabs a few bags, and then heads to the front door, pulling out the keys and unlocking it. She deposits everything in the kitchen, and goes back out.
Quinn is already on her third trip by the time Lex drags himself out of the car to help. He's a little sulky about it, but she's not making any comments. She imagines he's tired, given their miles of travel and his early start to the day.
Once everything is inside, Quinn locks the car and the front door before she retreats to the kitchen to unpack their booty. Lex surprises her with a hug, wrapping his arms around her hips and resting his head on her stomach.
"Hi, Baby Shark," she whispers, rubbing his back. "Everything okay?"
He nods against her, and Quinn just holds him close while he seeks this affection. All the books she's read about child psychology have helped her prepare for most things, sure, but Lex is always a surprise to her.
Eventually, he releases her, and then asks to be lifted onto the counter. It's a 'Baby Move,' as she calls it in her head, but she allows it. Once there, he starts taking out items from the bags and setting them on the counter for her to sort through.
Quinn puts on some music while they work, and sings whenever she knows the lyrics. Soon, he joins in, and his melancholy seems to disappear completely. Packing away their things takes longer than she initially thought, and it's practically lunch time once they're done.
"Pizza?" she asks, because she really doesn't feel like cooking right now and she knows it'll make him happy.
His smile is blinding. "Please."
"Grab one from the freezer," she instructs, and he launches himself off the counter, giving her a heart attack in the process.
She definitely needs a nap.
Pizza first, then a nap.
It's the agenda for the day, and she's not surprised when the two of them - and Sasha - pass out on the couch after they've eaten.
Quinn doesn't dream, which is a relief, and she wakes a few hours later to a lower sun and a drooling boy practically on top of her.
Quinn sucks in a breath, and then carefully removes herself from Lex's clutches. He grumbles a bit, but remains asleep, and Quinn visits the bathroom before checking her phone. She has emails and texts and social media notifications a plenty, but she's not bothered by any of them. She does have a few missed calls that she needs to return, and she does that immediately, bringing the phone up to her ear.
It rings twice before Louisa says, "Fucking finally."
Quinn grins, unable to stop herself. "Hello to you, too, Pretty."
Louisa Stone puffs out a breath. "Why didn't you call to say you arrived safely?"
"I texted."
"Call, Quinn," Louisa says. "I wanted to talk to my godson."
"I'll have him call you later," she says. "Right now, your bambino is drooling all over my couch."
"I want pictures."
"Of course."
Louisa falls silent for a moment. "Are you okay?" she asks, quiet and understanding. "Are you settling in all right? Have you met your neighbours?"
Quinn sighs. "Things are good," she answers. "We're still getting comfortable with the place. Baby slept in my bed the first night, but he managed his own last night."
"And you?"
"It's new," she says. "Different. I miss you guys. I miss a lot of things."
Louisa clears her throat. "Have you - "
"Lou," Quinn interrupts. "Don't."
She sighs heavily. "Okay, okay. Just, you know, if you want to talk some more about it, I'm here, okay? And Jane. We're all here."
"I know."
"As long as you do."
Quinn smiles, relieved and oddly settled. She was terrified of the move, though she wouldn't have admitted it to anyone. Sure, it's only been two days, but she's not quite regretting it yet.
She hopes she never does.
Lex begs Quinn to go to Pie Night at Rose's Diner when he wakes something like ten minutes later. She's in the middle of returning emails when he clambers into her home office and crawls into her lap.
"Please," he begs, bringing out those gorgeous, puppy-dog eyes that make her weak. "What are we supposed to have for dinner if we don't go?"
Quinn chuckles softly, kissing his forehead. "Okay, Sweets," she murmurs. "On one condition, though."
Lex blinks slowly. "Condition," he repeats.
Quinn thinks of a synonym he'll understand, but all that comes to mind is stipulation and constraint. "We can go, only if you agree to something in return," she tries.
Lex nods, suddenly serious. "Okay."
"You have to have vegetables."
Lex gasps, and then pouts.
"Take it or leave it, kind sir," she says. "Do we have a deal?"
He sighs dramatically, and then nods his head, presenting his hand to seal the deal. Her hand engulfs his when they shake, and she bites the inside of her cheek to stop her smile. He's just so stinking cute.
"Go put on some pants, dude," she says, and he takes off in a flash. Quinn takes another look at her laptop screen, decides the emails can wait, and then goes to get herself ready. She pulls on some jeans and closed shoes, runs a brush through her hair, and then heads down the stairs to let Sasha out.
She's just getting to the front door when Lex comes bounding down the stairs, a sweater draped over his shoulder and his left shoelaces barely tied. He's put on a pair of his own jeans and combed his hair.
She's tempted to tease him about sprucing himself up for Marley, but she's determined not to give him a complex about who he may or may come to like in the future.
"Ready to go, Officer?" Quinn asks.
"Ready."
Quinn opens the door, and Lex slips through, leading the way to the car. The sun is lower in the sky, but not quite setting, and she likes the fact they get a longer day here.
The parking lot is fuller than it was in the morning, obviously, and Quinn has to park further away.
"Looks popular," she comments as she climbs out of the car and waits for Lex to follow. "It's probably going to be busy."
Quinn isn't wrong, and she almost walks right back out once they step inside. She isn't particularly comfortable in large crowds - much to her friends' dismay - and the diner is bustling.
Lex grips her hand hard, because this is something he understands about his mother, and he's always been a little protective of her.
Before Quinn can make a decision, a voice calls, "Lex, you made it!" to their right, and Marley is suddenly walking towards them, beaming so widely that it looks as if it might hurt.
"Hi, Marley," Lex says, smiling a little hesitantly.
Quinn manages a smile, still uncomfortable. "We had to come check it out," she says. "Someone mentioned this was the place to be."
Marley's smile widens. "Sounds like someone smart."
"Debatable," Quinn jokes, and then flinches when someone to their left laughs uproariously.
Marley seems to notice then how tense they both are. "We don't have any tables or booths free at the moment," she says. "Reckon I can interest you in a takout?"
Quinn breathes out in relief. "That would be great, actually," she says. "We'll have whatever you recommend."
"Does that include dessert?" Marley asks, winking at Lex, who visibly blushes.
Quinn answers for him. "Something we can share," she says. "That'd be really great, Primrose. Thank you."
Marley returns her smile. "You guys can wait out front if you'd like," she says, entirely too casually. "It's kind of stuffy in here, ain't it?"
Quinn is already planning how much a tip she's going to give, because this girl is a diamond. "Thanks," she says, and then lets Lex lead the way outside.
They linger in front of the diner, Lex never straying too far from Quinn. He runs along the sidewalk, skipping over the cracks in the pavement, and Quinn feels herself settle at the sight of him acting so wonderful and silly and free.
She's so caught up in him that the sound of a child crying takes a while to permeate her thoughts. It's coming from an SUV parked a few metres away, and Quinn can see a man leaning into the backseat and looking a little panicked as he tries to get the crying child to calm.
She risks a smile, recalling her own attempts at trying to get Lex not to cry while they were in public. The uncontrollable tantrums have since ceased, and now she's able to talk to him and have him understand whenever he goes off these days.
The crying doesn't stop, though, and Quinn contemplates heading over to see if she can help the overwhelmed man, but then Marley is opening the door and stepping out. Her smile is wide as she hands them a large food bag.
"Whoa," Lex says, his eyes wide.
Quinn just chuckles. "How much do I owe you?"
Marley looks a little stumped, as if she was planning to give it to them free of charge. "Oh, um - "
Quinn shakes her head and hands over a large note, which makes Marley's eyes almost bug out. "Thank you, Tulip," she says.
Marley just continues to stare at them.
Lex hugs her quickly, says a quiet thank you, and then the two of them turn to go to the car. Quinn hears the door open and close behind them, which is a relief, and she feels immensely proud of her son for some reason.
"Mommy, look," Lex says a moment later, and Quinn's eyes snap to the right where the child's persistent crying has been muffled.
By a hand.
Quinn blinks, because she's convinced she's not actually seeing what she's seeing because now the man is saying, "Shut up. Just shut up."
"Stop," another voice squeaks. A young one. And it's the first time Quinn notices there's actually a boy with the man, standing at his side and trying to get him to stop... smothering the toddler in a car seat. "Stop, you're hurting him."
Quinn feels cold all over, and her body acts without her mind's consent.
She remembers handing her keys to Lex and telling him to go to the car. She remembers approaching the man with rage burning in her veins.
It's really all she remembers.
Because, the next thing she knows, she's driving away from Rose's Diner with three children in her backseat instead of one.
"Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my God."
The car isn't moving anymore, but neither is Quinn. She's parked in their driveway, her heart beating a mile a minute and blood rushing in her ears.
Okay.
Wow, okay.
"Mommy," Lex tries, his voice quiet, and it helps Quinn settle.
Quinn takes a long, deep breath. "Okay," she says. "Everything is okay. We're all okay, right?" She turns around to see three pairs of wide eyes staring back at her. For a moment, it makes her smile.
Before the panic sets in, once more.
"Hi," she manages to say to the boy clinging to his little brother.
Nothing.
"I'm Quinn," she says; "and this is my son, Lex." When she gets no response, Quinn sighs. "This has been quite the night, huh?"
The boy blinks, but says nothing.
Lex leans forward. "You kidnapped them."
Quinn licks her lips. "Well, yes, I guess I kind of did." She looks at Lex. "Welcome to Lima, huh?"
"Mom," Lex groans.
Quinn takes a breath. "Okay, little peeps, we have to come up with a plan," she says. "Also, I'm hungry." She looks at the boy. "Have you eaten?"
He shakes his head, his dark hair bouncing slightly.
"Think we can head inside and eat something while we try to get a hold of, uh - your mother?"
He continues to stare blankly at her.
Quinn sighs. "I have every intention of returning you to your family," she says as softly as she can. "I'm just going to need your help to do that." She looks at the toddler in the boy's lap. "I'd also like to take a look at your brother to make sure he's not hurt, okay? You can be there the entire time." She looks at Lex, silently asking for some help.
Lex takes the cue. "Come on, dude," he says. "We've got pie."
Quinn would laugh, if she wasn't so surprised that's what finally does it. The boy nods his head, and then the four of them are heading into the house, moving straight into the kitchen once they've greeted Sasha.
The boy seems to settle at the sight of their dog, who nuzzles into his side as Quinn gets them set up at the kitchen table, spreading out the food and laying out plates for all of them.
She dishes for their guests - wow, Quinn, just call your victims your guests, why don't you? - first, and then lets Lex choose for himself. Marley really spoiled them with choice, but Quinn suddenly feels queasy.
"You're not allergic to anything, are you?" Quinn asks, and receives a head-shake in response. "What about Little Bug?"
A shrug.
"Is he okay to have some chicken and veggies from the pie?" she asks. "I'll blend it, of course."
A nod.
Quinn will take what she can get. She gets them glasses of juice, dishes her own food, and then sits at the table with them, listening to Lex tell a story about the last pie the two of them attempted to make.
"It was a disaster," he says, echoing Louisa's opinion on the final product.
"It wasn't that bad," Quinn finds herself saying, her eyes on the toddler sitting in the boy's lap, whose attention she's managed to hold.
She's feeding him slowly, and she's surprised by how well behaved he's being after the ordeal he's just been through. She even gets a few smiles out of him, which makes her chest fill with warmth. He's really very cute, with wide brown eyes and restless hands.
"You ate it, didn't you?" Quinn points out to Lex.
"I didn't know any better," Lex jokes, and the boy laughs, which draws a smile from Quinn, though she does her best to temper it.
"And now you do?"
"I think you should stick to pancakes, Mom," he says, mouth still full of food.
"Flex," she says gently. "Remember our manners."
He swallows his food and smiles a little sheepishly. "Can we have dessert please?"
"Why don't you ask our new friend if he'd like some?" she asks, as she gets to her feet and looks into what Marley has organised for dessert. It's apple pie, coupled with a note that says eat with vanilla ice cream - M, and Quinn finds herself smiling as she retrieves bowls for them.
She knows she's going to have to push for information now, before this situation gets further out of hand. She gets the tub of ice cream from the freezer while Lex clears the table, and then dishes out small pieces of pie. They're young boys, whether they like to admit it or not.
Once everyone is settled once more, Quinn asks, "Do you happen to know who I should be calling?"
The boy hesitates, and then nods.
"Do you know the number?"
A shake of the head.
Quinn hums. "Would I be able to find the number in the phone book if I had a name?"
A shrug.
"Google?"
Lex giggles, and the boy smiles.
Quinn exaggerates a groan, which gets full-on laughter from both boys. "What are we going to do?" she asks, and gets nothing in response. Her smile fades. "Look, Popsicle, we have to work together here, all right? There is someone out there who is worried about you, right?"
A nod.
"I'm not going to apologise for taking you from your dad, but - "
"He's not my dad."
Quinn freezes momentarily, caught off guard by the sound of his voice. "Oh. Okay. Well, uh, someone's still worried about you, right? Your mom? Grandparents?" She blinks. "Someone who won't hurt you?"
"He likes my mom," the boy explains. "They used to date a long time ago, but he's not very nice to us."
Quinn nods. "I saw that, Kid," she says. "I'm sorry."
He clenches his jaw. "I can't tell her he's mean, because she always gets happy when he's around, and I don't like it when she's sad."
Quinn has the urge to pull him into a hug, but she holds still. "That must be tough," she says, glancing at Lex, who has stopped eating his ice cream. She can only imagine what's going through his head, and she wants to hug him tight to her chest for long, long minutes.
"Hugo," he says.
Quinn frowns, not following.
"My name is Hugo," he says; "and this is Max."
Quinn smiles at him. "Well, hello, Mysterious Hugo," she says. "And hello there, Little Max."
She gets a smile and a giggle in response.
"Think you can help me get in touch with your mom?"
Hugo nods. "I know my house phone number."
Quinn pumps a fist through the air. "Now we're talking," she says as she gets to her feet to retrieve her phone. "Do you know where you live?" she asks.
"Not really," he says. "I know what our house looks like, though."
"I'll bear that in mind," she says. "We might have to take a drive if it starts getting too late." She gets Hugo to input the number into her phone, and then steps out of the room to make the call.
It goes to voicemail.
Of course it does.
"God, this is going to be so weird," she mumbles to herself just as the beep signals the start of the message.
It's as awkward as one expects.
"Uh, hello," she says, internally cringing. "Um, yeah, I'm calling because I wanted to let someone know that I have Hugo and Max with me. They're safe and fed, currently eating ice cream, so I hope that's okay. Uh, so, there was an incident this evening, I'm sure you now know, but I'm totally willing to explain. I think you'll understand I wasn't really left with much of a choice - I couldn't just let that man hurt them. I'm not sure what to do, given I haven't been in this situation before, but, uh, please call me back on XXX-XXXX as soon as possible, and we can figure out a way for me to get them back home." A pause. "Oh, this is Quinn, by the way."
It feels incomplete once it's over, and she spends a few moments just staring at her screen before she realises she needs to go back to the kitchen. She finds the boys giggling about something, Max halfway asleep in Hugo's arms.
They both look up when she enters. "No answer," she tells them, checking the time on her phone.
Hugo shrugs. "She's bad with answering it," he says. "She was supposed to meet us at Rose's."
Quinn blinks slowly, a thought coming to mind. "Maybe we should go back there," she suggests.
Hugo hesitates. "What - what if Finn is there?"
Quinn breathes out slowly. "Is Finn the man who was with you?"
Hugo nods.
"Has - has he done what he did today before?"
Hugo says nothing, which is really answer enough. He can't look at her, either, and his grip tightens on a sleeping Max.
"We can just drive by," Quinn says softly. "Bud, you won't have to see him if you don't want to, okay?"
"Promise?"
Quinn glances at Lex, who looks very, very serious. "I promise," she says, and she hopes this is a promise she'll be able to keep.
Hugo studies her closely, searching for something. Whether he finds it or not, she doesn't know, but he does ask where the bathroom is.
"Kiddo, can you show him?" Quinn asks Le before looking at Hugo. "Would you be okay if I held the Bug while you're gone? I think we'll be okay for a few minutes."
Hugo waits a moment, and then nods. Quinn gets to her feet and bends to lift Max into her arms. He's soft and warm, and his diaper is definitely full.
"Hey," she murmurs to Hugo, wary of the sleeping baby. "Are you able to change his diaper?"
Hugo nods.
"I have some supplies for you, if you're not comfortable with my doing it."
"I - oh, it's okay," he says, wrinkling his nose. "You can do it."
"Too gross?"
Hugo grimaces. "Super gross."
Quinn chuckles softly. "Why don't we all go upstairs, then?" she suggests. "You boys can wash up while I get Mustard here more comfortable, and then we can see about heading over to Rose's, if nobody's called on the number I left. Sound like a plan?"
Lex and Hugo both nod, and then they all head up the stairs. Quinn leaves them to it, and takes Max to her bedroom, where she has a few leftover supplies from Louisa and Jane's daughter, Christine. She kneels on the carpet and lays Max on her bed, humming quietly as he shifts in his sleep.
Gosh.
She can't even remember when Lex was this small, so sweet and innocent. So trusting and reliant on her. It's really amazing how they grow.
She makes quick work of getting him sorted, gently rubbing his tummy and smiling when big brown eyes blink up at her. She's a little worried he'll start crying, but she gets a smile instead.
"Hello, Little Bug," she whispers. "Did you have a good sleep?"
He reaches out with his hands, aiming for her hair, and she bravely leans forward, allowing him to play with her soft curls. It reminds her of Lex, and she feels a pang in her chest that her own little boy is growing up so fast.
She spends a few minutes just giggling with Max, enjoying the excited voices coming from Lex's room. She can hear words such as Iron Man and super cool and we should go see the new movie together and that's so cool, and Quinn feels her heart expand in her chest.
"Hear that, Maxi," she murmurs; "Tex-Lex and Hamburg seem to be getting along."
Eventually, she lets out a yawn, gets to her feet and lifts Max into her arms once more. He wiggles a bit, and she loosens her grip just enough for him to bend his back and look at her face.
"Ready to go?" she asks him. "Let's go see your mom, okay?"
She gets a gurgle in response, and it's wonderful.
Oh, no.
Is this - is she actually getting baby fever?
Quinn leaves her bedroom and moves towards Lex's room, popping her head inside. "Hey, Superheroes," she calls. "You two ready to go?"
Lex groans. "Do we have to?"
"I know it's nearing your bedtime, but it's important we get our stowaways back to their mom, don't you think?"
Hugo turns away and mutters, "Like she even cares."
Quinn thinks she could address that, but she doesn't feel it's her place. She's done more than enough tonight, she thinks, and she can't make claims when she's never met his mother. "Come on," she says. "Maybe you'll score some more ice cream when you get home."
Hugo's shoulders slump, and Quinn wants to reach out to hug him. Instead, she looks at Lex, who takes a breath and then very quietly asks, "Can I hug you?"
Hugo looks confused for a moment, and then nods, allowing Lex to swing an arm over his shoulders and let him know everything is going to be okay.
It's entirely too sweet, and Quinn can barely handle it. Eventually, though, she forces herself to say, "Leo, lend Harry a jacket, will you? The temp's probably dropped outside."
"Sure, Mom," Lex says, giggling at Hugo's look of confusion at the switched names. "She does that a lot," he explains.
"Meet at the door," she instructs, and then leaves them to it, going to the linen closet to find one of Lex's old receiving blankets to wrap around Max's squirming body.
He's a little talkative now, making sounds and gripping at her hair as she walks around gathering her silent phone, keys and purse, before she gets to the door and waits.
The boys arrive eventually, both of them yawning.
"Ready to go, Officers?" she asks.
Hugo looks confused again, but Lex grins at her, saluting. "Ready," Lex says, and Quinn opens the door to allow them through. She locks it behind them, and gets them piled into the car, Max held securely in Hugo's arms.
Quinn feels herself getting inexplicably more nervous the closer they get to the diner, and she's right to be worried when she pulls into the parking lot and sees a police car and people buzzing around the front of the diner.
Oh, boy.
"You rascals okay?" Quinn asks.
"We're okay, Mom," Lex says.
"We should probably get out there," Quinn says, sounding unsure. "Do you see your mom?"
"No, but that's her car," Hugo says. "She should be here."
Quinn opens her door, and climbs out, mentally steeling herself. She turns to open Hugo's door for him, and makes sure to look into his eyes. "Want me to take him?"
Hugo nods, and Quinn scoops Max into her arms. "I know we've met under unusual circumstances," she tells him; "but I'm glad we did."
"Really?"
Quinn nods. "Who else was going to kick Mr Scary Guy's shin to make sure we could escape safely?"
Hugo blushes. "You saw that?"
"I did," Quinn says. "You very brave. Do you take karate or something?"
His blush merely intensifies, and Quinn can't help her smile.
"You're stronger than you know, little Jedi Master."
Hugo giggles, and Lex offers him a fist for a bump.
Quinn reaches into her back pocket to retrieve the contact card she intends to give to Hugo. "This is my number, okay?" she says. "If you ever need anything, you call me, okay?"
Hugo nods slowly, taking the card from her and placing it in the breast pocket of his checked shirt.
"Whenever, okay?"
"Okay," Hugo confirms.
Quinn pauses. "Also, you know, maybe you should try to memorise it, just in case."
That gets her a little laugh.
"Come on," Quinn finally says; "let's go face the music."
Quinn holds Lex's hand with her free one as they round the car and move towards the front door of the diner. She's mentally rehearsing her explanation for the days events, which all gets derailed when the man from earlier - whoa, did she actually give him a black eye? - spots her first and comes stalking towards them, violently waving a finger and looking menacing.
"You!" he shouts, drawing people's collective attention to himself and her, and Quinn flinches moments before her protective instincts kick in and she shifts the boys behind her as she turns her body to shield Max, who immediately bursts into tears.
"You fucking punched me!" he roars, getting closer and closer, and Quinn makes the decision to hand Max to Hugo as she prepares to -
Well, she isn't even sure what she's going to do; just that she's going to do whatever it takes to keep him from getting anywhere near her boys.
Whoa.
Get yourself together, Fabray.
Quinn braces herself, but a sharp voice stops everything, and every person in the vicinity freezes in place, the sound piercing the space all around them.
"Finn!"
Quinn's head snaps to the door, where a brunette woman is standing, flanked by a brunette man and a blonde woman.
"Mom," Hugo says, suddenly smiling, and then escapes from behind Quinn to move towards the woman whose voice is still echoing around them.
It spells trouble for Quinn, though, which is something she realises too late, because some woman comes literally out of nowhere, screaming, "Is this the bitch that stole my boys?" and catching Quinn entirely off guard when she's suddenly tackled to the floor.
Lex screams, and other people scream, and Quinn uses all her strength to push the woman off her, barely dodging swinging fists. She scrambles to her feet, precious parts of her body aching, and her gaze is hard.
"What the hell are you doing?" she screeches. "There are children here."
Someone is holding the crazy woman back, but she's still yelling and that Finn is yelling, and Hugo is also being held back and Lex is crying, and it's an entire mess.
Quinn looks around for her son, seeing him standing there, frozen in place, looking terrified. She moves towards him immediately, only for someone to grab her shoulder, and she spins on instinct and punches whoever it is right in the face, knocking them onto the ground.
"Get your hands off me," she hisses, and then looks at Lex again. "Baby Shark," she whispers, dropping to her knees in front of him. "Mommy's okay. Look, Mommy's just fine."
"You're bleeding," he cries, and then flings himself at her, clutching at her neck and winding her.
Quinn both hardens and softens, her heart beating way too fast. She wraps her arms around him, and then gets to her feet, not letting go. Ever.
There are people all around her, watching. She spots Marley in the background, and she looks distraught. Quinn can only imagine what she looks like, standing there under the lights, bleeding God knows where, with a tiny boy clinging to her.
Well.
Quinn's gaze falls on the brunette woman who seems to be Hugo and Max's mother. She's just staring, unmoved, and there's a tiny bit of Quinn that actually hates her in this moment.
Quinn clears her throat, tasting blood in her mouth. "Well," she says, her voice flat. "If you honestly think I'm the one you should be worried about being around your children, you really need to re-evaluate with whom you spend time." Her eyes drop to Hugo, who looks terrified and confused and so, so angry. "You're a ninja, remember?" she says with a slow wink, and he manages a smile. She risks a tiny smirk back, and then turns and walks away, Lex's face tucked into the crook of her neck.
Nobody tries to stop her.
It's a fight to get him into the backseat when they get to the car, and she has to promise he can hold onto her shoulder while she drives them home to get him to cooperate.
He's extra clingy when they get home, and he doesn't let go of her while she cleans her few cuts and then gets him into the bath. She hopes it'll relax him, and it works a little, until it's time for bed.
Quinn won't even entertain the idea of making him sleep in his own bed, so they crawl into her own, and she allows herself to replay the entire day for the first time.
Wow.
Lex falls asleep, his head on her chest, but it takes her much longer to follow.
She does, though, eventually.
Welcome to Lima, all right.