III
The aftermath of the 'Incident in the Hardware Store' - as Quinn has come to call it - isn't as harrowing as Quinn initially expects. Lex is clingy for the rest of the day, but he sleeps in his own bed and Quinn doesn't actually have to say much more than, "It's not the same," for him to believe her.
Because it's not the same.
Quinn is convinced of it.
It's different this time, because there's confusion involved with Rachel, and Quinn hasn't been confused about a woman since she was a sophomore in college.
That confusion is merely amplified when she and Lex brave a return to the hardware store the next day and the General Manager informs her that a purchase has been made in her name. He won't tell her who it is, but Quinn takes one look at the items with which she filled her cart with the day before, and she just knows.
She has no idea how she feels about it, and it takes Lex reminding her they still need to get the stencils for his bedroom to get her moving again. There's a certain discomfort that comes from accepting the purchase, because she believes it was done out of guilt and not remorse.
Maybe both.
Maybe something else.
But Quinn is trying not to think about any of that.
"Mom!" Lex shouts from downstairs. "They're here!"
"Coming!" she shouts right back, abandoning her laptop and getting to her feet.
"Can I go outside?" Lex asks.
Quinn wants to say no, but he sounds so excited, and she's already on the stairs. "Go ahead, Officer," she says, and Lex throws open the front door before sprinting out the house.
Sasha goes tearing out after him, and Quinn can hear excited yelling and Sasha barking, and she's wondering what her neighbours must think of them.
Not that she even cares.
Quinn exits the house at a more sedate pace, spotting her Mustang parked beside her Volvo and smiling way too wide at the sight of it. Wow, she's missed her baby. She's had it since she was s sophomore in college, fiery red and older than her father.
Quinn walks towards the commotion, her smile widening at the sight of her best friends piling out of the car and gracing her with their presence.
"There she is," Louisa says, practically rushing at her, arms spread wide and red hair shining in the sunlight. She wraps Quinn in a tight hug, even lifting her off the ground.
Quinn isn't used to this kind of affection from Louisa, because they're not really huggers, but she just bears it and waits for Louisa to come back to her senses.
"God, you definitely don't look like a city girl anymore," Louisa says, setting Quinn on the concrete once more. "Are those denim shorts?" She hollers over her shoulder at her wife, who is already opening the trunk. "Jane, check this out; Q's wearing shorts."
Quinn just shakes her head, running a hand through her hair.
"She wears them every day," Lex reveals, appearing behind Louisa with Christine in his arms.
Quinn practically squeals at the sight of her, holding out her arms. "Gimme gimme," she says, and Lex moves to hand the toddler over... only for Jane to come out nowhere and intercept, hugging Quinn quickly.
"Just thought I would get my hug in before Christine hogs your arms," Jane says, chuckling to herself.
"Smart move," Louisa comments. "Though, now that she's got the precious cargo in her arms, she doesn't have to do any offloading."
Quinn just grins at them, spins on her heel and heads into the house without looking back. The house is a bit of a nightmare, given the renovations she and Lex are attempting to do themselves, but it's really turning into a home that feels like them.
Feels younger; more modern.
Quinn has many more plans for renovations. There's a lot that doesn't need change, but she has ideas for updating the kitchen and making Lex's bedroom feel more like his own. While Louisa and Jane are here, she's planning on using them for free manual labour.
Quinn takes Christine straight to the kitchen where she sets her on the ground to play with Sasha while she prepares some iced tea for her guests. Her family.
She dilutes some in a sip-cup for Christine, and then hands it to her where she's practically sitting on Sasha and patting her head. She can hear Lex, Jane and Louisa moving around, Lex giving them the grand tour.
Quinn sets a tray out with their glasses and a selection of cookies, nuts, crackers and a small spread of cheese, all while chatting to Christine about complete nonsense. She's busy nibbling on the corner of a salt cracker when Jane enters the kitchen, bending to scratch Sasha behind the ear before tickling Quinn's sides for a beat.
Quinn laughs softly. "The kid set you up all right?" she asks.
"He did, thanks," she says. "He's busy showing Lou all the new comics he's collected since the move."
Quinn turns to lean her hip against the counter. "We found a comic book store the first week we were here, and I promised we could pay a visit at least once every week of the summer."
"Does he get one every time?"
Quinn shakes her head. "His allowance isn't that high," she says, laughing softly. "Comics are part of our negotiations, but I've been a little loose with my change the past few weeks. I kind of want to spoil him a little, just to help him adjust."
If Jane can hear her vulnerability, she doesn't mention it. "The house is lovely, Quinn," she says. "A little empty, though."
"We don't have a lot of stuff, and we kept the bare minimum of furniture after my Gran's passing." She takes a bite of her cracker. "A lot of it was outdated, anyway. I'm trying to get us into the twenty-first century. Modernise it."
"It looks like it's coming along," Jane comments. "Are we actually here to do work?"
"You've uncovered my secret," Quinn jokes, and then sighs.
Jane rests a hand on Quinn's forearm, squeezing gently. She doesn't say anything because she doesn't need to, and the two of them just spend a few moments breathing together.
Jane knows.
What she knows, she'll never say out loud, and Quinn appreciates her for it.
Eventually, Quinn clears her throat, and then asks, "How was the drive?"
"Long," she groans. "I was in a car with two children, Luce. It was a bit of a nightmare."
Quinn laughs. "She couldn't sit still, huh?"
"At least Chris spent most of the time asleep."
Quinn finishes her cracker, her smile wide. "Thank you for bringing me my baby, though," she says. "I've missed her."
"I think Lou's going to be sad to part with her," Jane admits. "Though, I'm not. That thing is loud, and it was taking up space in my garage."
Quinn exaggerates a gasp. "You take that back."
Jane chuckles, and then reaches for a glass of iced tea. "So," she murmurs. "You mentioned something about opening up the space, yeah? Is that the wall you want to take down?"
Quinn looks over her shoulder at the wall separating the kitchen and the secondary living space. This old house has a separate dining room and separate front room, which is further sectioned off by a small entrance hall and staircase. "That's the one," she says. "Think you can come up with a plan for me? I'm pretty sure it's probably load-bearing, so you might have to engineer a beam for me." She pauses. "Please."
Jane nods, sipping at her drink. "Do you have the plans?"
"In my office."
"I'll take a look at them tonight," she says, just in time, really, because Lex and Louisa come stumbling into the kitchen then, both of them red from laughter.
"Sasha!" Louisa shouts in excitement, dramatically dropping to her knees and engulfing both Christine and the dog in a tight hug.
Lex skips around them and wraps his arms around Jane's waist. He closes his eyes and squeezes as tightly as he can manage, and Quinn takes a mental picture, feeling her chest expand at the sight.
"So," Louisa finally says, getting to her feet. "This is the place."
"This is the place," Quinn confirms, feeling oddly proud of this house she's trying to make a home for her and her son.
Louisa grins crookedly. "This place got a grill?"
"You said Lex brought up Blair?"
Quinn sighs as she sips at her Scotch, watching as Louisa flips their burger patties on the grill. She can hear Lex and Christine running around the backyard with Sasha, laughing and squealing and generally melting Quinn's heart. Jane is in Quinn's office, going over plans for the house, and Quinn wishes she were out here as well.
"It was a complicated situation," Quinn explains.
"Involving that woman."
"Hugo's mother, yes."
Louisa gives her a look. "I told you to make friends, Q; not enemies."
"It's not as if I set out to antagonise her," she says defensively. "All I was doing was shopping for fucking drill bits and she came out of nowhere and just started saying words."
"Words?"
"I think her son is freezing her out," Quinn says. "Well, I know he is, because he's called my cell a few times when things have been particularly rough."
"Dude."
"I know."
"Do you think it's a good idea to get involved in this?"
"Definitely not."
Louisa flips a patty, smiling at the grill marks she sees. "Be careful, Quinn."
She just hums in acknowledgment.
Louisa allows the topic to wane, asking, "What are the plans for tomorrow?"
"Chef Fabray Squared have pancakes planned for brunch," she says; "because we all know it's not going to be ready in time for breakfast."
"Preach."
"We want to have a picnic at this park SuperLex likes for the duck pond," she says. "Then he wants to take you bowling, before we get some pizza."
Louisa's eyes widen. "I'm not going bowling," she declares. "No fucking way."
Quinn just laughs, polishing off her Scotch. "Just you try to say no to those puppy eyes when he brings them out," she quips.
Louisa flips another patty. "Fuck."
Louisa sits back in her plastic seat, her legs spread in front of her and a groan on her lips. "I'm so tired," she says. "How on earth did I let you and your spawn talk me into bowling? I'm fucking exhausted."
Quinn laughs where she's seated beside her, just getting acclimated to the small crowd of people moving around the bowling alley. It was overwhelming at first, but Lex held her hand tightly as Louisa led them to their lane, and now it's as if they're existing in a little bubble of just themselves. "The drive wasn't that bad, was it?"
"No," Louisa says, peeking at her. "Just long. And quite boring. There's really very little to see between New Haven and Lima."
"I'll write a letter to the state," Quinn jokes.
"Speaking of writing, how's that going?"
Quinn shrugs. "Lindsey's been on my case this past week, but I got my chapter edits in," she says. "I'm not really up to writing that much these days, but I think things will pick up once Bambino starts school. I don't even know what I'm supposed to do for all those hours without him."
"I think you'll be okay," Louisa says, and then sighs heavily. "Are you, though? Luce, are you okay?"
Quinn puffs out a breath, unsure she even wants to answer this question. "Most days, yes," she says. "We've had an exciting start to our Lima lives."
"Kidnapping kids, huh?"
"Saving them," Quinn huffs. "I - I feel as if I should be doing more or something, but H's Mom confuses me, and his godmother, I believe, is straight up insane."
"She's the one who tackled you?"
"You would be impressed."
Louisa rests a hand on Quinn's bare knee. "Are you having any trouble?"
"With?"
"Sleeping? Nightmares? Separation? Masturbating?"
"Oh, my God."
"Drilling? Dealing? Moving on? All of the above?"
"You're honestly the worst," Quinn says, laughing. "We are not talking about any of that here."
"Any of it?"
Quinn looks away, nodding slowly. "It's growing on me," she confesses. "This place."
"Why?"
"Baby seems happier," she explains. "When he's happy, how can I not be?"
"Quinn," Louisa breathes. "Please don't do that. You know not to do that, and I'm not in the mood to point it out to you."
"I'm not asking you to."
"But I will."
Quinn sighs. "I'm not unhappy," she says. "It feels different here, but I'm hesitant to say it's better. Here, we're just Quinn and Lex, new to town, without the baggage of... being who we are. Nobody knows us here, and we'll be able to make friends who never - " she stops, sudden and painful.
"Who never knew you before your longterm girlfriend straight-up disappeared in the middle of the night."
Quinn purses her lips. "Something like that, yeah."
Louisa squeezes her knee, and then sighs. "It's going to be okay," she says. "I think you both needed the change, and Lex does look happy."
As one, their gazes drift to where Lex and Jane are giggling over her bowling technique. Grandma Style, she calls it, squatting down and rolling the ball with both hands from between her legs. She's terrible at bowling. All sports, really.
Louisa and Quinn are the gifted ones in this department, and they're both wiping the floor with Lex and Jane, Christine happy to bounce around and twirl in her pretty pink dress.
"It's all that matters to me," Quinn says. "My baby boy is everything."
Louisa glances at her. "You're everything, too," she says seriously. "Especially to Lex, which means you need to take care of yourself, as well."
"I hear you, Blue," she says.
"Good," Louisa says, getting to her feet. "Now, come on, we've got a few people to school."
Quinn takes a moment to settle herself, and then stands as well. She shakes out her arms, hands and fingers, preparing herself, and then lifts her head... and promptly freezes.
Of course.
In the lane at the far end, Quinn sees Rachel, and her heart skips a beat, which is a disastrous reaction to a woman who might actually hate her.
Quinn blinks several times, forcing herself to acknowledge that Rachel is here with Finn and four other adults, one of which is the woman who tackled her. They look as if they're just arriving, and Quinn lowers her gaze to locate Hugo and Max, smiling when she sees Hugo talking to a much younger girl and Max strapped into his pram.
They obviously haven't seen them, and Quinn isn't sure she even wants to acknowledge their arrival, but she knows there's only a matter of time before Lex notices.
"Q?" Louisa suddenly says, frowning at her. "Everything okay there, Tiger?"
Quinn waves her back, using her body to shield her own, in case anyone from the first lane happens to look this way.
"Dude," Louisa says. "What's up with you?"
"They're here," she says.
"Who?"
"Them."
Louisa looks around immediately, and Quinn digs her nails into her arm to stop her. "Ouch," she squeaks.
"Stop acting like a child," she says. "What do I do?"
"And I'm the child here," Louisa says sarcastically. "You don't have to do anything, you know that, right?"
Quinn nods slowly, peeking at Rachel over Louisa's shoulder, and feeling a pang in her chest when Finn wraps an arm around her waist.
"What - what is happening to your face right now?"
"Excuse me?"
"Your face," Louisa says. "It's doing something. What is it doing?"
"What?" she squeaks. "Nothing. My face is doing nothing."
This time, when Louisa turns around, Quinn says nothing, and it takes the redhead mere seconds to locate the people Quinn has described in great detail. She takes in the group, careful and calculating, and she figures out, in a heartbeat, just what has her best friend acting so inexplicably awkward.
"Quinn," Louisa says. "Quinn, baby girl, please tell me you are not crushing on that woman."
"You are a child," she says dismissively. "And, of course not. Don't be ridiculous."
Louisa turns back to look at her. "I don't even know whether to laugh or cry," she says. "Honestly, you're a fucking useless lesbian for pretty, tiny brunettes who are mean to you."
"Shut up, Lou," she snaps. "This isn't that."
"Then what is it?" Louisa presses.
"It's the children," she confesses, and she honestly believes it, but she's always been honest with Louisa. "Okay, it's partly her, probably, but it's mainly the children."
"I just don't want you to get hurt, Q," Louisa says, her voice quiet.
"I know," Quinn says. "I'm not planning on doing anything."
"Just, please be careful. Please."
Quinn shrugs. "Always am."
Quinn feels eyes on her exactly eight minutes later. She's surprised it's taken this long, and even more shocked that Lex hasn't yet noticed. The bowling alley is dimly lit, sure, and the flashing lights have created a slight cover for them, but they can still see.
And, it seems Quinn has been spotted. It's her turn to bowl, as well, and she suddenly feels self-conscious. She doesn't even know if it's Rachel who's watching her, but the hairs on her neck stand on end, regardless.
"Go, Mommy!" Lex shouts from somewhere behind her, and she smiles to herself. What does she have to be worried about, anyway?
She takes a deep breath, and then works through the bowling motion, her muscle memory kicking in and ending with a strike. Lex leaps to his feet, cheering her on, and she spins around with her arms raised.
"Yeah, yeah," Louisa says, getting to her feet and gently shoving her out of the lane. "That was pure luck."
"You're just jealous, Babe," Jane calls out, laughing.
Quinn does a little victory dance with Lex, both of them doing a strange dancing monkey thing, before they move away from the lane. Quinn is a little too charged to sit, so she lifts Christine off the ground and tosses her into the air, getting an excited shriek for her troubles.
"Wanna see Mama fail?" Quinn asks Christine once she settles her on her hip. "Wouldn't it be funny if she slipped and the ball fell right out of her hand?"
Louisa shoots a glare at her. "What are you saying to my daughter?"
"Nothing," Quinn says, entirely too innocently.
Louisa just winks, and then shifts into position.
"Go, Aunt Lou," Lex shouts, dutifully everybody's best cheerleader.
Louisa glances at him. "Thank you, Alexander," she says pointedly. "You're officially my favourite."
"I thought I already was," Lex says, pouting.
"Uh huh, Aunt Lou," Quinn mocks. "I thought he already was your favourite."
"Shut it, Fabray."
Quinn laughs. "Do your worst, Ruby."
Louisa fakes a laugh, and then actually bowls, leaving four pins up. She groans loudly, and Lex rushes to hug her tightly.
"You did great, Aunt Lou," he says against her abdomen, and she rubs the top of his head with her right hand. "You'll get Mommy next time."
"Hey," Quinn complains.
Lex shoots her a pointed smirk as he returns to his seat.
"It's okay," Quinn says; "Christine still loves me, don't you, Buttercup?"
Christine holds her cheeks and looks right into her eyes. "I wuv you."
Yip.
Quinn is suffering from some serious baby fever. It's proving to be a problem, and she's going to have to do something to nip it in the bud.
"Oh, we didn't order these," Jane says behind her, and Quinn spins around to see one of the teenage servers setting a platter of starters on their lane's table.
"I know," the young woman says. "It's from Lane One."
"Excuse me?" Jane asks, her brow creased.
"The appetiser platter was ordered and paid for by Lane One," she patiently explains. "I was told to tell you 'Game on.'"
Jane looks at Quinn, who looks a little stumped.
"Um," Quinn finally recovers; "thank you."
"You're welcome," she says, and then disappears from sight.
Jane, Louisa and Lex all look at Quinn, questions in their eyes, and Quinn just points over her shoulder with her thumb towards Lane One.
Lex jumps to his feet to get a better look, and then he waves at someone. Quinn turns to see Hugo waving back, and she reaches out her free hand for Lex, so they can go and greet him. It'd be rude not to, at this point, even though it's possibly the last thing she wants to do.
Lex falls into step beside her, and Quinn makes sure to hold onto Christine as they navigate the few lanes separating both parties.
Hugo lasts barely a moment more before he's taking off to meet them halfway, skidding to a stop once he's near enough. "Hello," he says, and this is the most excited Quinn has ever seen him. His smile is a little blinding, and she wonders if he's on a sugar high.
Lex wraps him in a quick hug as he says, "We're bowling."
Hugo nods, somewhat vigorously. "I suck at bowling."
"That can't be true," Quinn says, and Hugo smiles at her. "Hey, Kid," she says. "Fancy seeing you here."
"We come at least once a month," he explains. "My mom and godmother and Aunt Brittany and my godfather and Uncle Blaine and Camila and Norah and Georgia, but Uncle Noah couldn't make it."
Quinn blinks. "Wow," she says. "That's quite the party you're having there."
His smile suddenly slips, and his brow furrows. "And Finn, I guess."
Quinn breathes out slowly. "Has something happened?" she asks, her voice low.
Hugo shakes his head. "We haven't been alone with him since that night," he confesses, and, this time, she holds an arm out, inviting a hug, and he steps into it.
They all share a laugh when Lex tries to wrap his tiny arms around both of them, and Christine even pats Hugo's head.
"Oh, hello," he says, stepping back; "and who are you?"
"Her name is Christine," Lex explains. "She's my Aunt Lou and Aunt Jane's daughter."
Quinn waits, expecting some confusion or even a question, but Hugo just takes it in stride and says, "My aunts also have daughters. My uncles have one, too. But they're all babies." He wrinkles his nose. "They poop a lot."
Quinn bursts out laughing, and Hugo looks mightily chuffed with himself. "So, we got sent a platter of food from your lane," she says. "Know anything about that?"
He raises his eyebrows in surprise. "No, I didn't," he says. "From my mom?"
"Probably," she says. "We were coming to say hi, and find out what the stakes are for whoever wins."
"Wins?"
"We got told 'Game on,' so I'm ready to accept the challenge."
Hugo bounces on his feet. "Really?"
"Really."
Hugo reaches for her hand with one of his own, and Lex's with the other, and then drags them towards Lane One, where Rachel is waiting, alone, and looking a mixture of apprehensive and amused.
"Mom," Hugo says. "Did you really say 'Game on' to them?"
All Rachel does is nod, watching as Hugo releases their hands and steps up to her. "Is this an acceptance?" she asks, looking at Quinn for the first time.
Quinn does her best not to react the moment their gazes meet, because this is just insane. "We're about to start our last round," she explains.
"We're coming up on our third."
"We have only four capable of playing, though," Quinn explains. "This little one is smaller than the balls."
And, Rachel smiles at Christine, this wide, genuine thing, and Quinn has never seen her smile like that before. It makes whatever Quinn has been harbouring inside threaten to bloom, but she forces herself to stamp it down.
Even when Rachel shakes Christine's little hand and introduces herself.
"Well, Blaine is sitting out this round to watch the kids, so we've got six capable," Rachel says.
"Reckon we can borrow one of yours?" Quinn asks, eyes flicking down to Hugo.
"Shotgun Hugo," Lex says, on the same wavelength.
Hugo looks up at his mother with wide eyes. "Please, Mom."
Rachel takes a breath, looking at Quinn with slight hesitance.
"We'll be right over there," Quinn says, pointing to their own lane. "Beating you lot."
The challenge seems to work, because Rachel's entire demeanour seems to shift, and Quinn can't help but find her that bit more attractive. Oh, she's definitely in trouble.
"You're on," Rachel says, and Hugo jumps a little. "Would - would you like to meet the rest of us?"
Quinn hesitates, definitely not wanting to do that.
Rachel must sense it. "Another time, maybe," she offers.
"If you guys win," Quinn says; "Smiley here and I are probably going to hit the paintball place some time next week, if you guys are interested in joining us."
Rachel looks surprised by the offer, and Quinn smiles.
"Think about it," Quinn says. "And, good luck."
"We won't need it."
Hugo laughs, his head tilted back. "It's so on, Mom."
"Prepare to lose," Rachel taunts.
Quinn shakes her head in amusement. "Save it for the lanes, ladies and gentlemen," she says. "We'll let you know when we're ready, all right?"
"Send up the signal whenever you are," she says, winking, and Quinn just knows she is in deep, deep trouble.
"I'm in trouble," Quinn confesses to Louisa twelve minutes later, while Hugo, Lex and Jane discuss the best way to beat Lane One. "She winked at me."
Louisa laughs softly. "Those winkers have always been your kryptonite, huh?"
Quinn just shakes her head, and then gives the boys her attention when Lex says, "It's going to have to be up to my mom and Aunt Lou. They're our best players."
Quinn raises her eyebrows. "Hey now," she says. "Don't make us carry this team. Every member is capable of some kind of contribution."
Lex's brow furrows. "Contribution," he repeats.
"Something to add," she explains softly. "We all have something to bring to the party. Even if you're not the best at bowling."
"Like what?" Hugo asks, looking curious.
"Well, Officer H, you have just about the coolest bowling shoes I've ever seen," she says, which makes him laugh. "And Space Cadet on your left there has some pretty awesome dance moves." To emphasise her words, Lex pulls a dramatic pose, which makes them all laugh. "Jane Doe there has the hair to make sure we win this thing. I mean, it'd distract anyone."
"I resent that," Jane deadpans, ruffling her own dark mane that hangs down to her lower back.
Quinn blows her a kiss, and then says, "Louisville is, uh, well, I'm not really sure what she brings to the table."
Both Lex and Hugo laugh loudly, sounding happy and light in a way that makes Quinn wish for this. Every day. Just this.
Louisa just shoves her, but she's also laughing.
"What about you?" Hugo suddenly asks, and Quinn frowns. "What is your, uh, contribution?"
Quinn grins at him. "Well, HVAC, I'm actually good at bowling."
She's pretty sure none of them stops laughing for the rest of the night.
Christine falls asleep in Quinn's lap before her last go, so she lets Hugo take it for her. It's impossible for them to win, so it's all just good fun now, with the boys taking turns at doing the craziest bowling walkups.
The laughter is music to Quinn's ears.
"The kid's pooped, huh?" Jane asks, settling beside her. "It's as if she knows it's time to head back."
"She just doesn't want to witness our loss," Quinn murmurs.
"Oh, Q, you know we were always going to lose," she points out. "You and Lou definitely tried to take us as far as you possibly could, but the game was skewed from the get-go."
"It was worth a try," Quinn says with a shrug. "We'll head home once those two turtles finish up. I'm also a little tired, and this Peach in my arms is a pioneer."
Jane laughs, gently rubbing a hand over her daughter's back. "She's missed you," she confesses quietly. "It's been a bit of a nightmare trying to get her not to have a tantrum every 'Thoup Thursday.'"
Quinn shrivels a little from the guilt. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be," Jane says, her voice barely a whisper, just loud enough to be heard over the music. "Lou and I know you had to do this. For yourself, and for Lex. Never apologise for doing what we all know was best." She sighs. "It just sucks."
Quinn lightly bumps her shoulder with her own. "I'm so glad you guys are here," she says. "It's starting to feel like home here, and I'm so glad you get to see it."
"Good thing you left your car behind, huh? Giving us an excuse to make the trip."
"As if you needed an excuse," Quinn jokes.
Jane just gives her the softest look, and Quinn basks in it. The most interaction she's really had in Lima has been with her son, so she's grateful to have some adult socialisation. These are her best friends, as well, so she's going to enjoy every second of it.
"Oi," Louisa says, moving to stand in front of them. "You stealing my woman, Fabray?"
Quinn rolls her eyes. "We both know J-Rod would leave you for me in a heartbeat," she teases, looking past Louisa to Lex and Hugo, who are doing their own crazy victory dances. "They do know we're losing rather atrociously, right?"
"Let them enjoy their fantasy," Louisa says. "Though, we should start wrapping up. Chris needs her dinner before we lose her to deep slumber, and my back is really starting to act up from all this bending."
Jane gets to her feet and presses a kiss to her cheek. "You really are getting old, aren't you, Detective Stone?"
Louisa rubs at her own lower back. "I really am."
Quinn also gets to her feet, steps to the right and carefully sets the sleeping Christine into her pushchair, strapping her in and then straightening. "I'm going to return the brunette monster, and concede to our adversaries, okay?"
"We'll clean up here," Jane says.
Quinn smiles her thanks, and then moves towards Hugo and Lex, who both look a little manic, if she's being honest. Too much sugar and too much excitement. She's not looking forward to trying to get Lex to calm for bed.
But, dinner first.
Pizza, obviously.
"Hey, Anti-Winners," Quinn calls out, thoroughly amused with herself. "We totally did not win."
Lex shrugs. "But we had fun."
"That is the right attitude," Quinn says, ruffling his hair. She looks at Hugo. "So, we're done with our time on the lane," she tells him. "Which means we're about to leave."
"Oh."
Quinn rests a hand on his shoulder. "The good news is you've got at least three more rounds to look forward to."
Hugo shrugs, as if that doesn't excite him.
Quinn draws him into a loose hug. "Come on," she says. "You're having fun."
"I am, now."
Quinn laughs softly. "And you'll continue to," she assures him. "But, Cool Cat and I have to admit defeat, so why don't you say bye to Balou and G.I. Jane, and then we'll head on over?"
Hugo pouts a little, but he eventually disappears behind her, and Quinn uses the opportunity to rest her forearms on top of Lex's head, which makes him laugh.
"Mommy," he whines.
"I love you, Baby Shark," she murmurs, because she really does.
He wraps his arms around her waist and squeezes as tightly as he can manage, which would hurt if Quinn wasn't used to pain.
When Hugo gets back, Quinn extends an arm, and they have their second ever group hug. Which Quinn will admit to getting used to.
"Time to face the music, Gentlemen," she says, and the three of them make their way over to Lane One, where Rachel is trying not to look smug, and the blonde woman in their group is doing a little dance behind her. Quinn barely notices anyone else, and she loves that Hugo and Lex can bring themselves to laugh at their antics.
"Well, well, well," Rachel says, folding her arms across her chest. "The wayward son returns."
Hugo giggles, lingering at Quinn's side for a moment before crossing over to his mother and allowing her to drape an arm over his shoulders. "You won, we know."
"Actually," another voice says, and Quinn flinches as the woman who tackled her pops her head out from behind Rachel for a moment; "we totally creamed you."
Hugo rolls his eyes. "Nobody likes a sore winner, Aunt Santana," he grumbles.
Rachel shakes her head at them both, her eyes trained on Quinn, not missing her reaction. "We didn't really decide on the winnings, did we?"
Quinn shrugs. "Heartbreaker there is our chief negotiator," she says, smiling at Hugo. "All decisions for our team will be made by and through him."
Hugo seems to stand a little straighter, even puffing out his chest a little. "I'll be the best chief nego - neg - "
"Negotiator," Quinn finishes for him.
Lex looks up at her. "Negotiator," he repeats.
"Someone who uses words to make deals with people," she says, trying her best not to explain using words he wouldn't understand. Broker and lucrative just won't work right now.
"Cool," Lex says, beaming at her.
Quinn squeezes his shoulders, and then looks at Rachel. "We're going to head out now," she says. "Just wanted to say thank you for the platter, and the game."
"And the loss," Rachel quips.
Quinn rolls her eyes. "Goodnight."
Rachel's smile softens, which makes Quinn's mind think things it really, really shouldn't. "You're welcome, and goodnight, as well," she says. She looks as if there's more she wants to say, but she forces herself not to.
Quinn smiles at her, and then at Hugo. "I trust you'll make good choices."
"Always."
She holds out her fist. "See you soon, Officer Hugo," she says, and he bumps hers with his own.
Lex gives him a quick hug and says, "Your shoes really are awesome."
Quinn glances past Rachel to where the other five adults have moved on to their next round without Rachel. She's not really sure what to make of the group of them, and she's not willing to spend too much time thinking about it. Maybe another time.
"Until next time," Quinn ends up saying.
Lex waves at Rachel, and then the two of them turn and walk away. Quinn can't help smiling at Hugo's excited chatter she hears as he gushes over how much he loves bowling and how much fun he had with his new friend, Lex.
Quinn bends slightly and kisses the top of Lex's head. "Ready for some pizza, superstar?"
Lex does a little skip as he walks, which is really answer enough.
"Fabray, we can talk about this now, or we can talk about this now."
Quinn lifts her gaze from her laptop screen to see Louisa standing in the doorway to Quinn's home office. It's their last night here, the little family heading back to New Haven in the late morning, and Quinn can't sleep.
Louisa steps into the room and closes the door behind her, her expression serious. She shuffles closer, and then rounds the desk. The room, itself, is sparse, with just Quinn's desk, Quinn's chair, a large set of bookshelves, a leather couch along the left wall and a little desk set for Lex against the right.
It says a lot about them, really.
Louisa moves to Quinn's side, and then lifts herself to sit on the desktop, swinging her legs a little. "What are you doing?"
"Working on an edit," Quinn says, shrugging a little. "It's not really coming together the way I want, and Lindsey can tell."
"Are you really having that much trouble?"
Quinn looks away. "The character," she tries; "the character is too much like - " she stops, and Louisa doesn't need her to finish.
"Is this when we talk about Blair?"
Quinn flinches, despite herself. "Can we not?"
"Well, we could talk about your disastrous crush on Hugo's Mom."
Quinn groans. "I hate you."
Louisa rests a hand on her wrist. "Talk to me."
Quinn clears her throat. "We both know I really started writing Detective Matilda Swanson after I met Blair," she says. "Fuck, I never should have visited you at the precinct."
"You were going to meet her eventually," Louisa points out. "It was bound to happen."
Quinn sighs. "Well, she inspired a lot of my work after that, and my most popular character was born, and it's just so fucking hard to write about her now. So many things are tied in that relationship, and moving to Lima was supposed to make things better, but I haven't been able to get anything on paper."
Louisa isn't sure what to say.
"I almost want to introduce new characters and kill off Matilda," she admits, wincing. "Which is horrible, I know, but I can't. I just can't."
"What if you sent her undercover instead?" Louisa offers. "You probably need a break from her, and you can basically write around her for a while while you heal and come to terms with the fact Matilda is not Blair."
"Because Matilda wouldn't leave me?"
"Because Matilda is fictional," Louisa says.
"Doesn't mean she doesn't have the power to hurt me."
Louisa shakes her head. "Are you sure you've heard nothing from Blair?" she asks, her tone careful.
Quinn nods. "If I did while I was still in New Haven, I definitely didn't recognise it," she explains. "I don't even know how she would find me here. The only mail I've received here is a flyer for a Bible study."
"Are you going to join?"
Quinn seems to consider it. "Do you think that's what I need?" she asks, almost rhetorically. "To find a church here?"
"Do you think that's what you need?"
"Divine intervention?"
"To stop you lusting over your kid's friend's mom."
Quinn pinches her leg, earning an indignant squeak. "Stop being so crass."
Louisa chuckles for a moment. "No, but, really, Quinn, is this something serious? Are there actual feelings in play, or is this really one of those instances where you're attracted to women who give you shit?"
Quinn gives her an accusatory look. "If you knew Blair was such a mess; why'd you let me get involved with her in the first place?"
"Need I remind you that she made sure you two hid your relationship from me for months," she points out. "By the time I found out, it was too late and you were already in too deep."
"Which is why if fucking hurt," Quinn whispers. "It fucking hurts."
Louisa considers her for a moment. "Maybe this is what you need," she muses; "a harmless fuck."
Quinn snorts in surprise. "With Hugo's Mom?"
"Why not?"
"That's just going to complicate things," she says. "It's never going to be harmless, and you know it."
"Someone else, then."
"When exactly am I supposed to do that?" Quinn asks.
"Do you have time for yourself?"
"Excuse me?"
Louisa glances down at Quinn's crotch. "Do you satisfy Little Quinn?"
"Oh, my God."
"Is what you would be saying as you approach your - "
"Shut up."
Louisa laughs loudly, unashamed. "I just want you to live your best life, Quinn," she says. "I get that you might not like to accept it, but your happiness is just as important as Little Dude's. This is your house, sure, and you're building it into something beautiful, but you seriously need to have sex once in a while."
Quinn is too amused to be embarrassed. "I'll be sure to keep that in mind."
Louisa sighs. "Look, you've told me countless times that the best form of happiness is ensuring your own, before you can make others happy, right?"
Quinn hums softly.
"If you don't do this for yourself, you know it's going to take its toll on Lex," she says. "He can tell when you're not happy, and he feels it's his responsibility to make sure you are. That's no kind of pressure for your kid, Quinn."
Quinn clenches her jaw. She knows Louisa isn't calling her a bad mother, but there's a part of her that can't help thinking she's failed Lex in some way.
"Hey," Louisa says, tapping her chin. "It's my job, as your best friend, to make sure you and my godson are okay. It's harder to do when you're in a different state, but I will always do it, whether you like what I have to say or not."
"I know," Quinn murmurs, her gaze on her own hands. "I know. I just - I'm trying, okay? I'm trying so hard."
Louisa slips off the desk and slides arms around Quinn, hugging her head to her abdomen because there's nothing else to do.
It's funny, Louisa thinks, that they can even be this affectionate with each other. Quinn didn't grow up with it, and Louisa spent far too many years keeping people at arm's length after a terrible experience with the last boyfriend she ever had.
They're both very hard, guarded people, and it took a lot of hard work for Jane to slip through both their walls. It helps that she's no-nonsense and unafraid to say whatever's on her mind. She calls them out on their bullshit on the daily.
They all met in college, Quinn and Jane starting off as freshman roommates. They didn't exactly get along at first, clashing on many things within their shared space. They laugh about it now, but it was a trying time for them both.
Quinn admitted once that the way Jane wore her sexuality so openly made her a little uncomfortable, given she was still struggling with her own. They eventually grew to appreciate each other, though, even choosing to room together for the remaining years.
Quinn and Louisa met in a Behavioural Analysis class when Quinn was a Sophomore and Louisa a Senior. Quinn still had dreams, then, of everything. She was young and hopeful she could make some kind of difference in the world, declaring a double Major in Criminology and Creative Writing, and a Minor in Nutrition.
She was a little lost and very confused, and then she was forced into a group project with Louisa and two other students, and it changed her life.
Louisa changed her life.
Because, without Louisa, Quinn wouldn't have Lex, and it's really as simple as that. Louisa knows it just as well as Quinn does, though neither of them has expressly said the words out loud.
It's just that Louisa did the thing and called Quinn out for her potential sexuality, and Quinn reacted by starting a truly ill-advised relationship with her professor, whom she only learned was married when she tearfully told him she was pregnant a few weeks in.
It was a mess.
Sometimes, it still is.
Louisa feels responsible in some ways, because she knows she should have been more tactful. Her own reading has shown her that numerous teenage pregnancies have resulted from gay panic.
Still, here they are today, and Louisa knows Quinn believes she has little regrets. Lex is everything, which is something Louisa fully understood only after Christine arrived. Really, the second her daughter was born, Louisa re-evaluated everything, even going so far as to consider a career change.
Jane, of course, wouldn't let her, but Louisa gets it. She understands, more than she would like to, but she vowed, the day Quinn entered the lecture theatre with red, puffy eyes and a growing life in her womb, that she would be there every step of the way.
She's never broken that vow, and she's not about to start.
"It's going to be okay," Louisa whispers, pressing a kiss to the top of Quinn's head. "Everything is going to be okay."
Quinn might be only two years younger than Louisa, but she feels like a child now. A child seeking something.
And getting it.