The 'M' Word:

"I don't want to do another run in that ridiculous show, Dad." Rachel told Hiram, her Dad. He looked to his husband, Leroy who just shook his head. Neither of the men knew how to take their daughter's decision. "Rachel, how much have you thought this through?" Hiram sighed.

"I have given it a lot of thought. I was thinking about it long before I met Quinn. I haven't been happy for a long time. The past six months with Quinn have been amazing and I can take the time off to spend with her."

"Take Quinn out of your decision, I'm sure she doesn't want you to give up your dream for her."

"It isn't her decision though, its mine."

"No honey, it is Quinn's decision too." Leroy added.

"Huh?"

"The two of you are in what is becoming a serious relationship. When you're in a serious relationship you have to think about the consequences of your actions a lot more. Can I give you an example?" Leroy explained. Rachel nodded waiting for her Daddy to continue. "If say hypothetically you leave this show, take a year or two out, travel with Quinn, get married or whatever. The time will come when you'll want to get back to the stage but what if you can't, they've forgotten about you. Auditions begin to become far and few, your dream is starting to die. What if you begin to resent Quinn for taking the time off the stage to spend with her? What about Quinn's other dreams? What if she can't take all this time off because she's got a narked editor on the phone urging her to finish the next draft of her latest novel?"

"I'm sorry Daddy, that's nonsense." Rachel scoffed. "I have other dreams. I want to be a mother. I want to be a wife. They're priceless dreams. How could I resent Quinn if she helps me fulfill those dreams? Quinn and I know what we want."

"Dad and I don't want you rushing into any major decisions, do we H?"

"No, we don't."

"I mean Quinn and I aren't going to be getting married and having children any time soon but I don't want to be tied to a contract when we feel we're ready."

"If it's not going to be for a while why don't you look at what other options you have open."

"I haven't got any auditions lined up. I have one more thing I really want to do before I settle down though, if it doesn't happen before it can happen after, I just want to cross it off the bucket list."

"What is it, sweetie?" Hiram asked, unsure of what else his daughter could possibly dream of doing.

"You'll see eventually." She said, not wanting to give it away before she told Quinn.

"What about Quinn? Does she know about this mystery dream?"

"She doesn't, I told her it was third date material but we got sidetracked preparing for our fourth date." Rachel blushed.

-#-

"Dad...Daddy...Can I ask you a question?" Rachel said as she sat in her fathers' hotel room as they packed to go home.

"Of course princess, what's wrong?"

"You two like Quinn, don't you?"

"Of course we do, we love Quinn. Why wouldn't we?" Leroy replied chirpily.

"So you've forgiven her for what happened in the past?" She enquired.

"Definitely. She was a child and didn't understand a lot of things that were happening in her head. Now she's embraced them and made one of the biggest changes in her life, we have nothing but respect for that. We know how hard it is to come out and deal with who you really are." Hiram added.

"What's brought this on?" Hiram asked. Both of her parents turned to face her as they awaited her response.

"Oh nothing, I was just wondering. So neither of you would object if Quinn and I got married?"

"No honey, of course not. We can see that Quinn makes you happy and that's all we'd ask. Promise us though, you won't rush into it."

"Oh no of course not. I've got a plan-" She began before she was interrupted.

"Of course you have a plan, Rachel. You always have a plan." Leroy mocked.

"It doesn't hurt to be prepared." She snapped back.

"Now now, no tantrums Rachel." Hiram reprimanded.

"Sorry, look, I've got to go, the theatre calls. Please let me know when you get home. Thanks for coming. I love the both of you so much."

"We will and we love you Rachel."

"Come visit us soon. Quinn and I would love to have you visit our new apartment." She beamed. "When I finally find one." She added. She hugged her fathers and kissed them both on the cheek before she left the room.

"She's growing up H." Leroy said as Rachel left the room.

"I know, I know."

"Who's going to break and propose first?"

"My money's on Rachel, just hearing her talk about Quinn made me see how in love she really was. I wouldn't be surprised if she scrapped the plan and proposed as soon as Blondie gets off the plane."

"I'll take Quinn then, not through lack of choice, but you can see how romantic she is. Look what she's written about our daughter even before they got together. She's written two love stories about her. I tell you something though, her proposal better be just as romantic. Rachel won't let her standards drop!" Leroy chuckled.

"You're on." Hiram laughed. He kissed his husband lightly to seal their deal. "She'll always be our little girl." Hiram mumbled quiet enough so Leroy wouldn't hear.

-#-

"Quite a turn out, Quinn. I'm impressed!" Lindsay whispered as they approached the bookstore.

"They've all been impressive. You really stepped up on the promotional work Lindsay, I can't thank you enough."

"How about you dedicate your next novel to me." She winked.

"I'm sorry; some crazy, brown haired diva has already stolen my words. She won't give them up without a fight." Quinn laughed. "Speaking of..." Quinn began changing her tone to sincere, "Did we get any response from publishing regarding that one copy?"

"Not yet, when do you need it by?"

"Anytime really, I don't know when I'll need it. I'm trying to perfect a time at the moment."

"Let me know when you decide and I'll get them to step it up a gear."

"Thanks Lindsay, I appreciate it."

"No problem, are you ready for this?" Lindsay said as she opened the door to the store.

"Yeah, it's just another signing; besides this is the last one of this short tour."

"I'm glad but I wasn't taking about the signing."

"Oh, well what were you meaning?"

"The magical 'm' word..." Lindsay mumbled. Quinn's eyes widened.

"Oh yeah! Of course! I've been planning this for years. Timing's just proving to be a bitch. I need to make sure she's ready for it. I've also got to speak to her Dads as well. I want to do this properly." Quinn answered as she sat down at the table that had been set up for the signing.

Quinn distractedly signed the books placed in front of her. She smiled and posed for pictures with fans, she made small talk but all the while she was distracted. She was in another state. 'Twelve hours and I'll be home' she kept repeating in her head. She knew that they would be the longest twelve hours she'd ever lived through but what was waiting for her at home was worth it.

Rachel sat in her dressing room staring at the pictures that adorned the mirror. Many had been replaced over the past six months. Where she would have problems locating the meaning and memories she had in the previous ones; the ones that they had replaced burst with memories, emotion and meaning. She stared at each one intently recalling the happiness and joy captured in each one. Her heart panged with joy when she realised that her girlfriend would be home soon. 'Twelve hours' was the last thing she thought before she went on stage.