Standard disclaimer I don't own Glee or any of its characters.
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"Thank you." It's Quinn who finally breaks the silence that had followed everyone's confessions. What had been revealed had been way too personal for the silence that had followed to have been comfortable but it hadn't been tense or heavy either, a deep silence was probably the closest thing any of them could think of to describe what it had felt like after everyone had had their say. Any walls or barriers that may have existed between them before had been broken down and the five of them had realized that each of the people in here were the most important people in their lives. It was a world altering moment for each of them and it had been a lot for them all to take in.
"Thank you all so much." It felt like such a small and insignificant thing to say to her friends, her family, because that is what these people were, they had learned all there was to know about her. They had heard about her trials and her doubt and her self-loathing, the mistakes that she had made, they knew her completely and totally and rather than run away screaming like she thought they would and maybe even should, they had responded to her confessions with things just as personal for them. She had for the first time in her life truly trusted someone and rather than being hurt like she had always feared, she had been accepted.
Tears are rolling down her cheeks as it hits her that these people genuinely love her, and it's such a strange concept to her. Intellectually she knew that they cared about her but with how she was raised and the way that she had been treated by her family something inside of her, a little and sinister voice in the back of her mind had always told her that it was temporary, that one day they would leave her and that no one could ever truly love her.
And for the first time for as far back as she could remember that voice was gone. She knew with absolute certainty that she was loved. That the people around her cared for her and wanted her to be happy. So she says it again, "Thank you."
She doesn't know what else to say. She was feeling overwhelmed and she knew that no words she could say would ever be enough to express to them just how much they meant to her and what they were to her as a person. "I… I don't know what's supposed to happen now but…"
"Why does something have to happen?" Brittany asks her with a smile. "Why can't we just accept the fact that we all love and support each other without question? We love you Quinn, it's that simple."
Santana walks up and takes Quinn's hands in her own. "My girl's right Querida, we know how you feel about us because we feel the exact same way about you. I get it, better than I had ever thought I would, the way you were raised, exactly how awful your family is, we get it and we understand better now. They're idiots and their loss is our gain, you let us in, you've always had these walls and barriers up, even with me and B, and now we get why, but you've let them down now and you've let us in and you know what? We love you all the more for it, we finally get to see you, all of you, all that you are and guess what? You're even better than we imagined, we knew you were strong, but now we know just how strong. And you know what else, you don't have to thank us for this, in fact don't, caring about you isn't some kind of chore or obligation. We love you, like B said, it's that simple."
Quinn just nods her head, the tears continuing to stream down her smiling face because for the first time ever she gets it and she believes it, she is loved. She looks around the room at all of her friends, first to Santana, then Brittany, Rachel, and finally Finn. "I know you said not to but… thank you. I love you and thank you."
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xXx-Scene Break-xXx
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Maribel is surprised when she sees Quinn walking into the room followed by the rest of the kids. Quinn doesn't seem upset or nervous, in fact it's almost as if a weight has been lifted from her shoulders. Quinn walks straight over to Maribel who stands up to speak with her. The rest of the room watching on, wondering what is going to happen.
"Maribel."
"Quinn I am so sorry, I know today was hard for you but I promise you that this isn't over, that I will fix this and that she won't get away with this."
Quinn just shakes her head and smiles before moving in and wrapping the older woman in a hug and saying softly. "Honestly I don't care about that, I mean I do and I obviously want her to answer for all that she had done but ultimately I'm done with her. I just… thank you for everything, thank you for standing up for me and protecting me. Thank you for doing everything in your power to make sure that I'm okay. I know I'm not yours biologically but you have been every bit the mother that I have needed through all of this, thank you and I love you."
Maribel starts to cry as she holds the young woman in her arms tightly, "You are mine Quinn, I promise you I will look out for you and protect you. You're right I may not have given birth to you but you are every bit my daughter the same way that Santana and Brittany are and I am so proud of the young woman that you are. I love you mija and I promise you I will make sure that everything is okay for you."
"I know you will and I'm not worried about that or about what my parents do or don't answer for, I'm done with them. I don't care what happens to them, do your best but just know if things don't work out that I'm okay. What I am worried about though is I won't go back there. I don't care what any judges say or what they say, I will not ever live with either of them again. Not my mother and not my father, from here on out I am cutting them out of my life." Quinn looks over to LeRoy and Hiram.
"As long as you guys will allow it I would like to stay here, this place feels like home to me, but I'll understand if you guys thought that this would be just a temporary arrangement."
"You aren't going anywhere Quinn, this is your home and you've become a Berry. As far as we're concerned you are always welcome here." LeRoy tells her.
"Sorry kid you're stuck with us." Hiram jokes.
"Thank you, so that's all I really wanted to say, I'm okay and I'm going to be okay because I have all of you." Quinn says smiling.
"Don't worry Quinn, I promise you that no matter what happens you won't go back with your mother, what we'll do is tomorrow after school and after the hearing you and I will go down and you'll basically give your statement and we'll take it to family court. You're old enough that your wishes will play heavy into the judge's decision if and when either of your parents ever try and get custody back of you. And while today was a bit of a setback there is no reason to give up yet, I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure that you are taken care of and that they both pay for what they've done to you, okay."
Quinn nods her head, "Like I said I'm not worried, not anymore. So um, unless there was anything else, I've got some homework I need to do, I've missed a lot of school lately and I need to make sure I'm caught up so, do you guys need me for anything else?"
"No you go on."
"Misters Berry, mami, papi, if it's okay with you guys we'd really like to spend the night, I know it's a school night but…" Santana looks from the Berry's to her parents and back to Quinn.
"We don't have a problem with it for just tonight as long as your parents don't." LeRoy answers.
"As long as you two don't mind then sure we're fine with it." Aiden answers.
"Great, thanks!" Santana says, while Brittany pulls out her phone to call her parents.
"Although I'm sorry Finn, but-" LeRoy says.
"No it's cool," Finn says holding his hands up in surrender, "I completely understand, because even though nothing would happen I'm still a guy and it would be totally inappropriate for you guys to let me stay here unattended with four young women. Believe me I understand, and besides even if you guys were cool with it there is no way my mom would be, so no worries."
"We're glad you understand Finn." LeRoy says, impressed with the young man while Hiram watches him warily, recalling that Quinn had told him that he and Rachel were interested in each other. "But please feel free to stay as long as your curfew allows and please at least stay for dinner."
"Yes please, stay for dinner." Hiram says, and while his tone was friendly there was a glint in his eyes that was anything but.
Finn gulps nervously, picking up that he must have done something to have found himself in the other mans crosshairs. "Yeah sure, that sounds great."
"Alright you kids have fun, Aiden, Maribel, I hope that the both of you will join us tonight as well?" LeRoy offers.
As they head back up the stairs to Quinn's room Santana nudges Finn playfully, "You sure nothing would ever happen? I've seen the way you've been eyeing Berry and even I have to admit she's got great legs."
Finn starts to blush while Rachel is looking a little red now too, "Of course I think Rachel's pretty but I would never… I mean I… um…"
Rachel decides to come to Finn's rescue, "Thank you Finn, that's very sweet and Santana, I had no idea you wanted me like that." Rachel teases.
Santana stops and looks Rachel up and down, a smirk playing on her lips, "I'll admit it, you're pretty fine." Santana then steps into Rachel's personal space and teasingly runs a finger up and down Rachel's arm who shivers, "But is that such a bad thing?" Santana says softly and seductively, she then begins to cackle with delight when Rachel's face goes beet red, her jaw hanging open, unused to that kind of teasing.
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First things first, I would like to apologize for how long it's been since I've last updated, not only that but I am well aware of how short this chapter is especially after how long it's been. Part of the problem has been that after the last chapter I was hit with a severe case of writers block and so for the longest time I wasn't sure how to continue. Did I skip ahead from all of the confessions, did I go immediately after and if so how do I handle it. It was driving me crazy until finally I was able to type this up, I think it turned out pretty good though and hopefully you all will feel the same.
The biggest reason I'm posting this chapter now, rather than waiting and maybe trying to make it longer is that I want you all to know that I haven't forgotten this story and that I haven't abandoned it. I'm still working on it and I'm hoping to get back into the swing of things real soon and I'm hoping that eventually I'll be back to posting a chapter a week.
That being said I'm not quite sure when the next update will be, hopefully it will be soon though.