"Quinn…oh Quinn…I've got a little snack for you…"
The softly crooned words awoke her subconscious, giving her access to her external senses. And the very tantalizing smell wafting just under her nose.
"Is that…bacon?" she mumbled, beginning the slow process of leaving the warm cocoon of bed sheets and blankets for the cold reality. Her sleep, while a long time in coming, had been deep and rejuvenating. And it didn't hurt that the futon mattress was so comfortable.
"Of course. But if you don't hurry up, we're gonna eat it all…"
"Don't you dare!" she shouted, immediately jumping from the bed to chase after the giggling brunette. Spencer rolled her eyes at them from in front of the stove but smiled nonetheless.
"Kids…" she said in mock warning. "You keep running around and neither one of you will get any."
Ashley pouted but relinquished the other half of the piece in her hand, Quinn devouring it almost reverently.
"God bless the man who came up with bacon…"
"Actually, would you believe bacon as it is known actually came from a woman? After curing the meat, they, meaning old-time farmers and such, would cook or fry it. And who generally took care of food?"
"Spencer Carlin, everybody, my never-ending history lesson," Ashley said, slipping behind her to drop a kiss on her cheek, sneakily stealing two more strips before she pulled away.
"You know you love me anyway. And I saw that, for the record, but since Quinn obviously loves it as much as you, I'll let it slide this time." The pair grinned and gave each other a high-five, happily munching on their prize. In consolation, they set the table for the actual breakfast, grabbing the plates and utensils, syrups and juices.
Quinn, having entered that lovely stage of pregnancy where she could put away a horse if able, dug in eagerly, face lighting up.
"Oh my god, Spencer, this is so good! Where'd you learn to cook like this?"
She smiled. "Daddy. He considers himself quite the culinary master so made sure I knew how to support myself once Ashley and I moved out here. He didn't want me living off fast food, like someone I used to know." She shot a heavy glance at her girlfriend, who only shrugged her shoulders with a cheeky grin.
"Guilty as charged. I can't cook to save my life."
"Like the time you tried cooking rice and nearly lit it on fire?"
"That was an accident!" Both raised an eyebrow in an eerily similar movement at the same time, focusing more on her slowly reddening features, namely her cheeks and the tips of her ears.
"Or the time you made burgers on the George Foreman?"
"I didn't know they were supposed to be flipped!" Quinn couldn't contain her snort of amusement, it turning into a full gut busting laugh at the look on Ashley's face.
"Ohmigod! Ohmigod! I can't breathe!" she got out, trying to bite back her mirth.
"Great job, Spencer. You broke her! We've only had her for a night!" That caused her dwindling laughter to renew, Quinn holding onto the table to prevent herself from falling off her chair. They waited patiently for her to get her giggles under control, if by under control meant she still giggled at nothing every so often. Unseen, Spencer smiled sweetly at Ashley, her girlfriend shrugging her shoulders with her own smile, calmly retuning to eating.
"So Quinn, Ashley and I were wondering when you wanted to go shopping. And if you wanted us to go get your car today?"
Her happy bubble burst at the reminder of her less than ideal situation, her whole body seeming to wilt under their worried gazes.
"I don't want to go home right now. I'm pretty sure daddy's still upset."
"And your car?"
"I'm sure I can get one of my friends to get it for me."
"That's fine. You up for some shopping?" Quinn stared at her cousin in surprise, jaw hanging open. "What?"
"That's it? You're not going to question me? Push me? Make me make a decision?"
"Quinn, you should know, number one: if you refuse to answer, it's obviously none of my business. And number two: I'm going for my bachelor's in psychology. You don't need to tell me what I can read from you already. But when you're ready to talk, you will."
"And we'll be waiting," Ashley added. "Trust me; I've been there and it wasn't until Spencer here," she reached over and placed her hand over the woman's free left hand, sharing a loving glance, "just let me be. She didn't force me to say or do anything I didn't want. She was there when I was ready though and she will be for you too. So even if you don't tell us right now, you're more than welcome to call us."
"Aww, I've been influencing you," Spencer cooed, pulling Ashley's attention away from the teen, who looked a step away from crying. "Now be a good girl and go grab the extra plate of bacon that I hid in the oven."
"That's where you hid it?" She eagerly left the room, leaving the other pair behind.
"Quinn, you're excused to the bathroom. I know how pregnancy is," Spencer said, eyes on her plate, her voice carefully nonchalant.
"But-"
"Quinn. The hormones. They make you emotional, right?" Spencer gave her a weighted look, understanding smile on her lips, and tipped her head towards to the bathroom. Realizing what her cousin was doing, she took the excuse for what it was, disappearing into the enclosed space. The tears fell down her cheeks silently the moment the door was closed, the gut wrenching sobs held in so as to not disturb the other women.
"Damn it…why am I all emotional over nothing…" Using the conditioning she'd received from birth, she regained control of herself in record timing, splashing cold water to her heated cheeks to remove any trace of tears. "Pull yourself together, Quinn. Just because your cousin you haven't seen in nearly a decade is showing you more love than your parents after only one day is not something to get overly emotional about."
The shopping trip was done in Columbus, for both the women and for Quinn. Having spent the entirety of her life in Lima, actually getting to Columbus was a real treat. Ashley had promptly muttered "tourist" in amusement and grabbed the keys to her car, pushing the blondes out the door unceremoniously. Quinn had spent the drive staring at everything, almost vibrating with anticipation.
"For a popular girl, you obviously don't get out much," Ashley said, noting the wide-eyed wonder on the teen's face as she struggled to take in all the sights at once, making tiny gasps at the more spectacular sights.
"Ashley, of course, is failing to mention her same reaction when I first brought her here," Spencer said, grinning mischievously. Quinn could see the half scowl but she was also certain the woman was smiling.
"Daddy said Columbus was a hive of anti-Christian peoples and we weren't allowed to associate with them. So I've never been here before. It didn't help that he told my friends' parents not to let me come here either."
"Urgh, I forgot how much of an ass Uncle Russ is. But what about the cheerleading competitions? I know a few of them were in California."
"Coach had us asleep for most of those drives so we'd be ready when we got there. Then we were either practicing, competing, eating, or sleeping. There wasn't any free time to admire anything. We were there to win, not sightsee."
"Yup, that sounds like Coach Sly, although we did get to party a little when I was on the squad. Guess she tightened that noose after I left."
"Getting off topic, Spence," Ashley said when they paused at a red light. "You'll have to excuse her. She gets ADD when new topics present themselves and doesn't remember her original tangent. But she's so cute." Spencer glared at her girlfriend, promptly kissing her cheek.
"You're lucky you're good in bed. But as for you, Quinn, don't believe a word of that crap Uncle Russ likes spewing at the slightest provocation. Columbus is nice and the people are friendly. Imagine Lima, just without everyone being completely nosy and judgmental."
"You're just saying that because you spend most of your time on campus," Ashley replied dryly, expertly dodging the light slap Spencer wanted to deliver even as she drove. "Besides, that's just big city college life. People are more laid back here because there are so many students all the time. They just learned to adapt."
"You guys go to Ohio State?"
"Yup, we're what, three years in? We won't be graduating for a while though."
"Why not?"
"Double major/minors for the two of us. We like to overachieve."
"More like I wouldn't allow you to be lazy."
"Hey. I took the minor, like you wanted."
"No, you took the minor because a lot of the classes overlapped and I suggested you might as well get your minor since you're already doing all of the work."
"Yes, ma'am."
Quinn couldn't help her giggles at their easy banter. Never before had she seen a couple just so…comfortable and free with one another. Most of her parents' interactions were restricted to projecting the image of pristine white America with the house, two kids, and a picket fence. While there was some adoration in the Fabray household, it was almost completely devoid of familial love. At times, she envied Francis, for getting out when she did, ignoring the fact that her sister was merely repeating her childhood with her new husband.
"Are you guys always like this?"
"Yes," they answered in unison. "It's usually her fault."
"And I'm going to shut up before I get kicked outta the bed tonight," Ashley added under Spencer's unimpressed stare.
"I love you anyway."
"I know." They all fell silent after that, each content with their own activities, Quinn looking out the window, Ashley driving, Spencer idly playing with the fingers entwined with her own. Unlike any Fabray family trip, the atmosphere wasn't tense, wasn't filled with unachievable expectations. Quinn sighed quietly to herself.
I could get used to this…
"But she's a Black Magic Woman and she's trying to make a devil out of me."
"Let me guess, latina?" Ashley said, glancing at Quinn from the rear-view mirror.
"How'd you know?" she replied, pulling her cell phone out. "I'd expect anyone else to assume it was Santana since she's the only Hispanic girl I know."
"We use a different Santana song for our Hispanic."
"Great minds think alike. San?"
"Where the hell are you? Your mom's blowin' up my phone like crazy!"
She winced at the tone, pulling the device away before the shouting caused any lasting damage. While she and Santana often appeared at odds, because most often they actually were, they did also maintain a solid friendship, somewhat motivated by not wanting the other girl as an enemy. They just mutually agreed, Quinn was a much better leader but there was no better second-in-command than Santana.
"I'm with my cousin. Finn told my parents about the baby last night and they kicked me out."
"¿Qué diablos está mal con tus padres? Finn es lo estúpido!" The rant continued undeterred and Quinn felt no guilt pressing mute, quite satisfied in allowing Santana continue.
"Once she gets going in Spanish there's no stopping her until she's got it out," she explained.
"It's alright. Our friend's the same way. You might wanna check soon though."
Sure enough, "Are you listening to me?"
"Of course I was. Didn't understand a word of what you were saying but I was listening."
"Don't get smart with me."
"I've been smart, I'm just getting here."
"Enough. I know you can understand me perfectly fine. Are you alright though, for serious?"
She sighed, deeply, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "Doing better. My cousin Spencer and her girlfriend Ashley are taking care of me for the time being. Would you mind driving my car to school, though? I don't want to go back home just yet."
"No problem. Me and B can pick it up later. And since when have you had a gay cousin? This is new."
"You're telling me. I found out last night."
"Good thing you're so used to me and B or that mighta been hella awkward. Didn't they used to live here?"
"Yea, but apparently Cali was very good on all fronts."
"I never thought it would happen but with all the pressed lemons here I guess it's not that surprising. But regardless. I'm here, you know. In case you need something."
"I'm here too!" came from the background and Quinn didn't bother trying to stop her smile. Brittany was their personal ball of sunshine and neither had any compunction to change that.
"Tell B I said hi and that I love her too."
"Q says hi, B. Just so you know, mami expects a call soon and so does mom. You really had them worried last night when you disappeared." The guilt she'd been valiantly fighting off came back full force. She knew she should have informed her surrogate/replacement mothers about her new condition but to be honest, she didn't want to face their disappointment. If her own parents couldn't stand her, how could her extended adopted family?
"I know. Tell them I'll call later on. But I gotta go; we just pulled up at the shopping centre. I'll text you after."
"You better, bitch. Laters." The line abruptly ended but she didn't mind too much. Santana really wasn't for lovey-dovey cutesy stuff unless it was for Brittany. She looked up to see Ashley's understanding smile and felt an answering one spread on her own lips.
"Everything okay?" Spencer asked as they started walking towards the moderately crowded shopping centre.
"Yea. Just one of my on again/off again friends checking up on me. She's going to get my car and drop it off at school for me."
"Speaking of…while we don't mind you staying, an hour commute isn't good for you or your gas mileage."
Quinn was afraid they'd bring that up. It had occurred to her too, once she realized how long the drive had taken last night, that should couldn't live with Spencer. And while she did want to stay with her cousin, she knew it wasn't feasible. After all, they were third-year college students and obviously sexually active. If it were her, she wouldn't want a pregnant teen cramping her style or libido.
"Like mom and dad didn't give me the house. You just wanted to live closer to Columbus because it's closer to the airport. You can just crash at our old house, Quinn. Mom gave it to me when she knew we were moving here and Ashley pays the bills on it."
"Why keep two homes though?"
"Because I turned the house into a music studio of sorts. And it's our weekend getaway." The look she shared with the older blonde was one she was well acquainted with.
"So I'm to avoid the master suite, right?" she said, grinning slightly at their shocked looks. "My besties look the exact same way when remembering some escapade or another."
"Glad to see we're all adjusting so well," Spencer said, clearing her throat with a slight blush, "We'll take you there tomorrow then and get you situated in one of the spare rooms."
"Really? Just like that?" Spencer stopped them before they walked in, placing her hands firmly on Quinn's shoulders.
"Quinn. You're pregnant. You're having a baby. That means a lot of things will have to change for you. You'll have to do a lot of growing up soon."
"What she means is that you made the mistake, now you have to deal with the consequences, but that doesn't mean you should be punished heavily for it. And besides, her internship is half an hour from the house," Ashley added.
"Crude though she may be, she's also right. I'll check on you in the evenings before I go home," Spencer said, smiling at her. "You're not alone, baby girl. And Ashley can give you the run down on what to expect since she's done it before."
"Hell, plain and simple. I hope you don't have dietary restrictions because when you start craving something, you have to have it." She shivered in remembrance. "But, it'll still be the greatest experience of your life, all the way to the end and beyond." Her gaze turned distant, and Spencer curled an arm around her waist, giving her a gentle shake.
"We'll try in a few years but you're so totally being the mom."
Her words had the desired effect of snapping the brunette out of her stupor. "Hey! I'd make a much better dad!"
Spencer scoffed. "You keep telling yourself that. Come along Quinn, there's shopping to be done." She hooked the other blonde by her elbow, happily tugging them inside the air-conditioned haven. While firmly being fall, the weather was just hot enough to uncomfortable.
"And on that note, I'm gonna jet. Have fun, Quinn!" Ashley said as she made her strategic retreat, hurrying away as quickly as her legs could carry her. The amused chuckling brought Quinn's attention back to Spencer.
"She always does that but she'll be in the music section no doubt. But let's worry about you now. What colours do you like? What about…"
A full two hours later and their buggy was filled with everything a pregnant teen could need, and a few things she didn't want. They got a lot of awkward looks going into the maternity section and dressing Quinn but again, Spencer channelled the innate Fabray genetics and glared them away. Most of her outfits were dresses, being easier to move in and change into or out of, although Spencer made sure to get a little bit of everything else, a little larger than usual of course. But Quinn couldn't deny that she'd had fun, despite what they were shopping for.
She remembered a little of Spencer from her childhood, mostly awe at the red, black, and white cheerleading uniform she'd proudly paraded around once she joined the Cheerios in her freshmen year, one of the first to be accepted despite her being on the bottom of the school's social ladder, and the obvious pride Paula and Russell had for her. Now talking to her 'idol' at an equal level was strange, but good. Spencer was making her relax in ways she never even realized she was tense in.
"Alright, I think we've got everything we might need, for now at least. When you start showing more we'll worry about what we missed. Ready to go find my girlfriend and exercise my right to spend her money?" The cheeky grin on Spencer's face was enough to send Quinn back into her giggles, much like she had been the entire trip.
"Sure. I'm also feeling kinda hungry, to be honest. Any good places you know around here?"
"Please, Quinn. I'm a college student. Give me some credit."
"So that's a no then?" she said, biting back her urge to giggle, smiling slightly.
Spencer rolled her eyes and shook her head, but it didn't diminish the expression on her face any less. "Watch it, blondie. I might throw you to the sharks."
"Did you know that dolphins are just gay sharks?" At Spencer's utterly confused look, Quinn couldn't help the laughter that bubbled out, powerful enough to drop her to the ground, pounding her fist. "Oh my god, your face!" Spencer stopped to watch her cousin go insane, still grinning even as she shook her head again.
"I'm beginning to think there's something wrong in the Fabray genes or something…" Quinn continued giggling, although she was able to pull herself to her feet.
"I'll explain later. Call it my 'Brit-ism' of the day."
"Ashley! I didn't expect to see you here!"
Abruptly, a rock fell on her chest, making it harder to breathe, and cutting off her laughter. Unbidden, a hand came up to her rapidly thudding heart, mentally willing it to be still. Spencer, having been watching, came forward, immediately turning motherly.
"Quinn? Are you okay? Look at me. Breathe. It's okay. Just breathe with me." She focused as well as she could, forcing herself to follow her cousin's movements. But that didn't stop her hearing from working.
"Rachel, hey. How are you? What are you doing here on a Saturday? I thought you'd be up at the theatre house by now."
"Pretty good, actually. Kurt and I are on a shopping expedition; or rather I've been volunteered as an unwilling advisor. And Mr Goldman said he'd have something for us to do later." While she knew Rachel was a common enough name, she also knew the girl's tone. It did sound off to her ears but she was sure Rachel Berry was standing a few aisles away.
"Stop lying, Rachel. You know you enjoy it. Hi, Ashley," said a new voice, one she knew to belong to Kurt. The realization threatened to undo all the work she'd done getting herself under control but Spencer could be quite firm at commanding attention when she wanted to be.
"Eyes and ears on me, Quinn."
"We're just waiting time until we need to go."
Quinn shook her head. "They go to my school. I wasn't expecting to see anyone till next week. And Kurt's a gossip. I don't need everyone to know I'm essentially homeless right now."
"You're not homeless, Quinn. It's just not filled with people at the moment."
"That reminds me, how'd that duet go? My class had a lot of fun rearranging it." Ashley was speaking again.
"It was amazing. You should have heard the way Kurt blended with those harmonies…"
"Please, please. You were amazing too, Rachel. The arrangement was wonderful, although you did drown me out at certain parts. We have got to do that more often though, nevertheless. Finn may look good, but I compliment your voice so much more."
"How do they know Ashley?" Quinn asked, peeking around the corner, spotting the trio's heads amongst the cd collection. Her fellow Glee clubbers had their backs to her as they continued conversing as she could see their heads nodding to whatever Ashley was saying.
"Ashley's professor helps with the arrangement of Rachel's songs, using them as exercises in changing the music to different keys without making it sound bad as practice for one of the music composition classes."
"Rachel, what have I told you about doing that?"
"I know you said not to but it's Defying Gravity, my go-to feel good song! How could I not let the spirit of the song overtake me?"
"By remembering you've got a partner who doesn't have your range and adjusting to fit. That's what duets are." Ashley was frowning disapprovingly as Rachel ducked her head in embarrassment. "But I want to hear it in person regardless," she added with a grin.
"Of course. I'm sure Kurt and I are up to it, aren't you?"
"Sure, Rachel. Now that we know what to expect, it should sound better anyway."
"Excellent. What are you doing here by the way, if you don't mind my asking?"
"Yea. Shouldn't you and your lady be sequestered somewhere private?"
"Ordinarily yes but Spencer's cousin got into a spot of trouble last night so we're helping her out now." She shrugged. "Family's always been important to Spence so who am I to question her?"
"Aww, that's too bad. What kind of trouble?"
"Kurt! Stop being so nosy!"
"What? I can't help it! Gossip is what I live for!"
"That doesn't mean you're entitled to every scrap of information."
"You're far too late, Rachel. She's already told me enough. Let's see, the Carlins were both natives, both before marriage. And the maiden name was-" He abruptly stopped and Quinn felt her heart sink.
"He knows," she murmured.
Everyone knew about Paula Fabray and her marriage to a local boy who was a gifted social worker, mostly because of how he was best friends with the only gay male in Lima. Everyone knew about their moving to California for Paula's job, taking their three kids with them.
"Kurt? Are you alright?"
"It's Quinn, isn't it? She's Spencer's cousin."
"Yes. I wasn't aware that was a secret," she replied, frowning.
"Oh my god. I need to…" The boy trailed off and away, paying no heed to Rachel following him.
"Sorry Ashley. We'll see you later. Once I figure out what's wrong with my gay at least. Say hi to Spencer for us!" Quinn ducked behind the wall, taking a deep fortifying breath, thanking her lucky stars Spencer was happy to just let her be for a moment.
"Want to explain why you decided to hide rather than saying hi?" She jumped at Ashley's sudden closeness.
"I just-I-I-"
"Slight panic attack. She doesn't want everyone to know what happened and Kurt's a gossip."
Ashley snorted. "That makes sense. Are you okay?" Quinn nodded mutely, still breathing slowly. "Let's get some food in the baby mama before she passes out."
And voila! Chapter 3. I have to admit, this one was bothering me the whole way through, hence its lateness. Writing Spencer with the aloofness of a Fabray was similarly difficult but considering my head canon for the story, it had to happen. I've also been working out the history for everyone and how it all connects, which is a clusterfuck of its own due to Glee's lack of depth with everyone who isn't main cast. Either way, I can't wait until Sectionals. The idea I have for that is something I've never seen done in the fics I've read, or that might have more to do with my reading Faberry almost exclusively…hmm. Food for thought.