Chapter 14

Quinn's P.O.V

I watched from the porch as Emily drove off in the direction of the hospital or at least I think that's the direction, I'm still learning my way around this place. Ashley Hanna's Mum was home, that's what Emily said and pointed Ashley car in the driveway. Walking into the house, I close the door and make my way into the kitchen where Ashley, Santana and Brittany currently were.

"We can go somewhere else, if we are bothering you," I say noticing Ashley was working.

Ashley replied with "No, its fine. With a daughter as loud as Hanna, you learn to adjust. Sadly, Emily never did."

"What do you mean?" I asked confused.

Ashley said, "I take it Emily told you she use to live here for a while," at my nod Ashley continues with "Well for the first month Emily and Hanna shared the same room, I don't think Emily realised how truly annoying Hanna can be. Hanna likes to listen to music while doing homework and that turns into singing, very loud singing. Emily took to studying at the library very quickly after the first week."

I replied with "That sounds like Emily, always stressed and focused about school."

"Not just school, it's everything she does," Ashley said simply.

"Yeah, I see your point," I say knowing Ashley was definitely right.

Santana asked, "Emily said she thinks you are in love with her is that true?" Ashley listen to Santana's questioned and I saw a smile appear upon her face.

"That girl," Ashley shook her head and then said "Yes, I love her very much but as another daughter. As you've probably worked out Emily isn't like most people her age, which comes from being a military brat; however, that's why she's so likeable or loveable."

"I figured that out, especially when she told me, she had never kissed anyone," I say honestly feeling safe with Ashley.

Ashley spoke "Doesn't surprise me that she didn't have her first kiss here, while people here are good friends with her. The only person who could or would date Emily is Alison."

Brittany asked, "Why do you say that?"

"They just have a bond like no other, I mean I'm not trying to hurt you Quinn because believe me when I say, you are perfect for Emily. Alison and Emily got each other better than anyone else, and in a town like Rosewood it's a good thing. However, you've got nothing to worry about, Emily will not cheat on you."

Santana asked protecting me "How do you know?"

Ashley states "Because a thirteen-year-old Emily once offered to beat up my ex-husband, Hanna's father after I found him cheating on me. It took me ages to get that thought out of Emily's head, so don't ever cheat."

"No plans too," I say not feeling offended by the way Ashley tone of voice and understanding she was just looking out for Emily.

Brittany asked, "What else can you tell us about Emily?"

"She always fun to be around, always ready with some joke line up but the most important thing I know about Emily is, she will always protect the ones she loves. Anyone how has ever tried to hurt Hanna or one of the girls, they'd soon regret whatever they did. Emily can be sweet and nice, but no one wants to see her angry."

"Sounds like Emily," I say.

Santana added "Yeah, she stuck up for these two kids she barely knew back in Lima and now she has this bully on her back.

Ashley said, "Emily will always fight for the underdog, no matter what."

"Has she always been so swimming crazed?" I asked curious.

"Well I don't know about before she came to Rosewood, but to Emily she just not swimming. I'm not sure if you know how important Emily's Dad is to her, being in the military meant there weren't many days Emily was with her Dad. So, whenever he was in town, all she wanted to do was be with her Dad. Emily has a pair of goggles she always wears when swimming, no matter if its competition or for fun. To Emily they are lucky because she got them for Christmas when she was about five from Santa but Santa was her Dad. You'll never see a stronger father-daughter duo like Wayne and Emily. Wayne absolutely loves his daughter, it's evident whenever the pair are together."

"Mr Fields is definitely one of the nicest Dad's I've met," Santana said.

Ashley asked "What are your Dads all like?"

"Mine and Santana's are okay, but Quinn's is no good," Brittany spoke truthfully.

"I'm sorry to hear that Quinn," Ashley said.

I replied with "It's okay, I'm glad his out of my life."

"Do you mind me asking why he is no good? You don't have to."

"No, it's okay. My Dad kicked me out of his house when I was sixteen because I fell pregnant, with another guy's baby who wasn't my boyfriend. A lot of lies were told to hide it but being a Christian man, he couldn't accept his daughter to pregnant; especially when I wouldn't consider terminating it. It was at our first sectional performance that my Mum came to see us perform; she told me she was terrible sorry forever letting my Dad kick me out and not protecting me. Our relationship was a little rocky to start with but we bonded over me having this baby, she helped set up a room and everything. Sadly, I ended up losing the baby through a car accident."

Ashley nods and said, "That's a lot to go through at a young age."

"Yes but it's made me a better person, before I was extremely mean because of my own self-hatred."

"For being gay?" Ashley asked.

"A unicorn," Brittany corrected confusing Ashley and making Santana and I laugh at her confusion.

Santana explain "Britts likes to create different meaning of words, for example a unicorn is someone whose gay and a dolphin is someone whose bisexual."

"You teenagers and your names, Emily used to get called mermaid all the time," Ashley said smiling.

I stated "Yeah, Emily mentioned that but she didn't say who by, she just kind of smiled about it."

Ashley said "That's not surprising considering it was Alison, she was Alison mermaid. Emily told me over a midnight hot chocolate fix that Alison called her a mermaid because of how she swam. Alison found swimming beautiful, especially when Emily swam. Mermaid was a shared moment between the pair, like I said they have a bond."

"I can understand her admiring of Emily swimming, it is quite beautiful," I say nodding my head not feeling jealous by Alison having a special name for Emily. Feeling my phone vibrating in my pocket, I pull it out to reveal Emily's face upon the screen.

"Hey sweetie," I say with a smile as I leave the room.

"Hi beautiful, how you doing at Hanna's?"

"Good, Ashley was telling us stories about you."

"Nothing too embarrassing I hope," Emily replied.

"Of course not, at least not yet."

Emily said "Carefully cheeky, I'm sure your Mum has serval stories she could tell me when we get back to Lima."

I asked changing the subject "Was there something you wanted honey?"

"Well dear, I was wondering if you were up to impromptu got back together date?"

"Sounds intriguing."

"Always, so you up for it?"

"With you, of course I am."

Emily said "Great, I'll be at the house within an hour to pick you up."

"Sounds good, still at the hospital?

"Yes, I'll fill you in later. I just wanted to check up, make sure you're doing okay."

"All good here, Ashley is very sweet."

"I'm glad you like here, see you in a little while."

"That you will," I say as I hang up the phone with a smile.

Walking back into the kitchen with a smile from the phone call, Santana asked "And what did sweetie want?"

I replied with "Asking if I wanted to go on a date with her tonight."

"Cute," Ashley states.

While Brittany asked "What are you going to wear?"

"Simple, t-shirt and jeans. It's only an impromptu thing, so no planning or anything. Just us being together."

Ashley then said, "Don't ask me how I know this but Emily loves her girls in t-shirt and jeans," I look at Ashley questioning but she shook her head so I didn't try asking.

"Don't you want to get all dressed up?" Brittany asked.

I state, "You heard Ashley, Emily loves her girls in t-shirt and jean," I smile at my own statement.

"Did she say where she was taking you?" Santana asked.

"No, it's Emily why would she tell me," I say with a smile.

Emily's P.O.V

"How are you liking Rosewood so far?" I asked looking down at Quinn. We were currently at the overlook point watching the sunset and the stars come out. i had bought sandwiches and juice from the apple rose grill before coming to get me. Quinn had instructed me to rest her head upon my lap giving me the perfect chance to run my finger through her smooth, silky, amazing hair.

"So far so good, minus Aria in hospital and the A stuff of course."

"Of course," I said with smile.

Quinn asked, "Any plans for tomorrow?"

"Well Hanna's lending me her car tomorrow, I want to go to swim practice tomorrow and I thought you could come with me. Then after that, I thought we'd make the drive to Philly and see Jenna."

"Sound good," Quinn said with a nod intrigued to meet Jenna.

"What?" I asked after just sitting in silence and me looking into her eyes.

"Nothing."

"Quinn, you can tell me anything?" I sat up and looks into my eyes, it felt like she was searching my soul to find the answer.

"Do you still love her?"

"Who, you mean Alison?"

"Yes," Quinn said.

"A part of me will always love her, she was my first love. No one has showed me more about love then her, that was until I meet you. You showed me what it's like to be so in love that your heart hurts when you're not with that person, which is scary when you've only been dating for a week but I soon learnt that our love was nothing to fear."

"Why didn't you tell me about mermaid? That it was her, who called you that?"

I thought before explaining "Mermaid was kind of a secret, Alison and I shared. The girls didn't even know about mermaid, it's just something I don't talk about."

"Okay."

"It's not that I don't want to tell you, it's just hard thing to explain. I love Alison like a friend, friendship is all I want from Alison and I'm barracking for her and Spence to get to together."

"Seriously it's okay Emily; I guess it's like my relationship with Puck. He'll always been important to me, not just because of Beth but we share this bond."

"Yeah, also doesn't help you lost your virginity to him."

"Right I was trying to spare you from that."

"It's okay Quinn. I'm not stupid to believe that you haven't been in any other relationships or you won't be if we were to break up. I can understand the bond you share between Puck, because he was the guy you did trust with your virginity. He was also going to be the father to your daughter, you were going to give life and that's something two people together or not always share. I just remember this, everything that has happened in my life and your life has brought us together; right when we both needed someone."

"Yeah, it's like your reading my mind."

"Lesbian urge to merge, is real," I say with a smile.

"You've been around Santana too much."

"Not over the last few weeks, not that I blame her."

"You don't?" Quinn asked almost surprised,

"Santana was only protecting her best friend, which is you. A few months ago, I was nothing to Santana. Whereas you've been her friend for years, I'd do the same if situation reverse."

"Now you've confirmed it, you have the biggest caring heart. Not a lot people could understand what Santana did."

"Well, we are kind of a like, in a weird way."

"I guess you could be right."

I asked "Are you sure you want to get back together? I mean after everything that I've told you, I wouldn't blame you if you wanted to run to the hills or whatever."

"Yes Emily, I am sure. Nothing that you told me has changed the way I feel about you, it's probably made me love you more."

"Are you positive because I think it is starting again and it's worse this time, because A is messaging me in Lima? I don't know what's going to happen and the last thing I want is for you to get hurt."

"Emily please stopped doubting my decision to stay and be with you. If anything, ever changes or gets too much for me, I will tell you. But as of right now, if you don't mind me stealing a line from High School Musical," Quinn then sings "All I wanna do is be with you, I just wanna be with you," I smiled when Quinn poked my nose.

Quinn's P.O.V

"Okay, I just needed to make sure. This is a very intense thing to be a part of."

"Your perspective of me didn't change when I told you about Beth, so none of this A stuff has changed my perspective of you."

Emily smiled and asked, "Are you really sure?"

"Yes Emily, now stop asking me. I want to be with you, no matter what," I smiled at Emily and leant forward to peck her lips.

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay Emily. I'm just glad to finally know this part of your life."

"Sorry."

"Stop saying that," I said slapping my chest.

"I just feel like I have a lot to apologise for to you, if I had just been honest with you from the start our break-up never would have happened." As I looked up into Emily's eyes which were slightly shielded by her hair but I could see the tears rolling down the side of her face. This shocked me slightly, while I have seen Emily cry once this was different. Emily seemed wounded or something; it made me wonder if she had ever really let any emotion out during or after A. Pushing the hair out of her eyes, Emily eyes glance at me and I can see the pain and sadness inside of them. It breaks my heart to see Emily in this much pain.

"What can I do?" I asked unsure of what to say or really do to make her feel better.

"I'm okay, just give me a minute," Emily pulls away from me and looks up trying to stop herself from crying.

"Okay stop." Taking Emily's hands, I stop her from pulling away too far, I look into her eyes again the pain is still there but Emily is trying to hide it.

"Tell me what's going through your mind?"

"Everything, everything's going through my mind," Emily spoke while still trying to pull away.

"Stop trying to pull away; I only want to help you."

"Sorry," Emily said while standing up from the ground. Pushing myself off the ground, I follow Emily down to the railing and stand next to her. Looking at Emily's face I see this peaceful look on, which was shocking at how quick the pain and sadness had gone.

"You see the way I am with my friends? Always making sure their alright before I even look at myself. That's what it was like with A, I didn't worry about myself. Even after I killed someone, Caleb had gotten shot so it wasn't about me."

I asked "Emily, after everything stopped did you ever, did you ever cry?"

"Not really, I had to make sure the girls were okay."

"You can't keep something like that inside of you."

"Why not?"

"Because it eats away at you, until one day you don't feel anything."

"Is that how you felt after Beth?" Emily looked at me curious, I could see her reading my face but I don't know what she was getting from it.

"Losing Beth the way I did, it broke me completely. I barely ate, talking was a rare occasion. I just felt numb; I couldn't understand why god had taken my innocent child away. I get hurting me, I wasn't a very nice person but it wasn't the babies fault."

"You were going to be a good Mum Quinn."

"How do you know?"

"Because you wouldn't have failed your child, you would've made them feel loved no matter and to me that's what good mothers do."

"Thank-you Emily, but what were your parents like after everything?"

"They didn't take it every well, hence another part why we moved. I don't think they couldn't understand why we had lied, why we just didn't say something."

"You couldn't right, tell anyone?"

"No, we couldn't. No one would've believed us anyway," Emily shrugged.

I asked, "Why haven't you cried yet?"

"My strong mermaid, my brave mermaid," Emily tapped her chest as she spoke.

"I don't understand."

"It's what Alison used to say to me. We would be lying in bed together, my arms wrapped around her and her clinging on tight. She'd whisper it repeatedly. I couldn't cry, I couldn't be weak I had to be strong from them."

"And that's why you haven't cried," I stated connecting the dots.

"Yes."

"Emily, you don't need to be strong all the time and crying doesn't make you weak. It actually makes you stronger."

"Doesn't feel like it?"

"Well it's what Mr Schue said to me after I lost Beth, I didn't believe him either but overtime I began to heal."

"I'm just not good at the whole emotions thing."

"I think you're better than you think you are."

Emily smiled and said "I'm sorry this isn't how I thought tonight would go, I wasn't meant to be sad."

"Don't ever apologise about being sad. One of your best friends is in a hospital bed after being hit by a car, that is scary and sad but you can't keep that kind of emotion in." I watched as Emily's peaceful face turn into one of pain again. The tears fell faster than Emily had been ready for, I turned us to be standing face-to-face and I wrapped my arms around Emily's shaking body. I could feel my shirt getting damp from Emily's tears but I couldn't careless, my first priority was getting Emily through this.

Emily's P.O.V

Walking into the Marin house, a little after nine, it had been a whirlwind of emotions. I couldn't believe this is how tonight had gone; it's not how I planned it to go. Quinn had been amazing, I was a wreck and she was able to make me feel better. I now realise I still have a lot to deal with when it comes to -A, and it's not going to go away just because I say I'm okay. We entered the house as quiet as possible not wanting to wake anyone up, but we walked into the dining room to find Hanna, Santana and Brittany sitting at the table, drinking hot chocolate and talking.

"Hey," I say as Quinn goes to take a seat next to Santana.

"Hi, how'd the get back together date go?" Hanna asked curios.

I replied with "It went. What are you still doing up you have school tomorrow?"

"Yeah, I'm skipping that tomorrow."

"Over my dead body," I was deadly serious and Hanna knew it.

"No you don't get to be all in charge, you don't live here anymore."

"You're going to school tomorrow, whether you like it or not."

"Caleb and I have made plans."

"Do you really want to keep that answer?"

"Yes, he is not going to cancel. You and him, aren't closer than we are, he is my boyfriend Emily." Nodding my head, I pull my phone out from my pocket and started dialling his number, much to Hanna's disgusted.

"Hey lighthouse buddy," Caleb said all friendly.

"Hey sorry, it's late."

"It's never too late for you, what can I do for you?"

"Ten seconds," I stated.

Caleb sighed and said "What am I doing?"

"Hanna's cancelling her plans with you tomorrow and your both going to school."

"And you're using ten seconds against me."

"I get to use it for however long I know you for, or don't you remember?"

"I remember Emily," Caleb sighed and said "Fine, tell Hanna I'm sorry."

"Will do, I wouldn't be using it if it wasn't important you know that right?"

"Considering you've had options to use it in the past, yeah I know."

"Good, talk to you later?"

"Yeah Em, but as your lighthouse buddy I hope you know what you're doing," I smiled at Caleb's last word as I hung the phone up and looked at Hanna.

Hana asked "What did he say?"

"That whatever you have planned can wait until after school."

"What? No way!"

"Yes way."

"How did you change his mind?"

"Ten seconds," I state shrugging.

"What does that even mean?"

"It took me ten seconds to stop him from bleeding out, which saved his life."

"What?" Hanna asked in shock. Which I didn't blame her for, it had been the paramedics who told us that my quick thinking and work that helped save Caleb's life. As an agreement, we had decided to keep that fact a secret, I didn't need the pressure of being labelled a hero not with killing someone; which Caleb understood.

"It took you and the girls twenty minutes to get to us, it took paramedics fifteen. So, for fifteen minutes I held my jacket to his bullet hole. In ten seconds, I had control of the bleeding and I stopped him from bleeding out and dying. Caleb was able to hold on for the paramedics because of me suppling pressure to it."

"Why didn't you tell us?" Hanna asked with teared filled eyes.

"I had just killed Maya's ex-boyfriend, the last thing I wanted was to be labelled is a hero," when the word hero came out I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I had it switch on silent at the hospital and kept it that way on my date with Quinn. Pulling the phone from my pocket I look to see it's a message from an unknown number which makes my skin crawl, but I still open it.

-Unknown
Don't worry Em, you'll never be my hero just my victim. Hold on tight, it's going to be a bumpy ride. -A

"What is it?" Hanna asked seeing my reaction to the text.

I replied with "My least favourite person in the world messaged me," I chuck my phone to Hanna and she's surprisingly caught it.

"What do you think it means?"

"What it always means Hanna; we look over our shoulders for the rest of our lives again."

"Hey, why is Shana calling you?"

"We saw her today, pass it," I say taking the phone from Hanna and answering.

Shana said "I saw her."

"Who?"

"Who do you bloody think? Mona."

"Why did you do that?"

"I had to see if it was her."

"And?"

"She has no idea, I don't even think she wants to leave Radley."

"What do you mean?"

"Think back to when you got those papers, what did the lady look like?"

"I can't remember Shana, I broke up with Quinn that day everything else is a blurry."

"Did any of you get lawyers to look at them?"

"I think Spencer got her Mum too."

"And what did she say?"

"What's with all the twenty questions Shana, if you have something to say spit it out!" I shout annoyed at all the questions.

"Fine, they aren't real."

"They looked pretty real, and we each got served."

"Emily this person wanted you to think this was Mona doing it but it's not, she is happy in Radley."

"How can I trust what you say? You were revival."

"I was only revival because your school didn't have any space left, with you and McCullers speedsters were the last thing you needed anyway."

"Okay, you've got a point. But Shana, I don't trust you as far as I could throw you."

"That's a bit harsh."

"What do you expect Shana?"

"Fine, you entitled to your opinions. Do you remember what you said to me when you found about my dating Jenna?"

"Break her heart, I rip your heart out and then in to pieces."

"Exactly, I would never do anything to hurt Jenna. I'm not Garret or anyone else she's ever dated."

"That has nothing to do with trusting you. You may not be Garret but I still don't trust you with her."

"What is the deal with you and Jenna anyway? It's not like you like her like that or ever have."

"That's true, but she my sister and no one is going to hurt my sister."

"Okay, what can I say to get you to trust me?"

"Shana, don't you get it by now. I don't trust you with Jenna, so I don't trust you at all; no matter what you say."

"Fine, believe whatever you want Emily. Just don't be an idiot and get yourself killed."

"Oh you would just love that wouldn't you."

"It would make things easier but no, I don't want you to die Emily."

"Such heartfelt words, look I'm going to see Jenna tomorrow, anything I can say to her for you?"

"Tell her, I love her and that I should be up this weekend."

"Okay, bye Shana."

"Bye Emily," after hanging up the phone I put it back in my pocket and start analysing what Shana said.

Hanna asked before I had the chance to really think further "What did she want?"

"Just giving me a warning."

"What kind of warning?" Quinn asked. Hearing Quinn's voice reminded me that they were all still in the room and heard my fight with Hanna and anything else.

I replied with "Not to do anything stupid, which ends with me dying."

"That was nice of her," Brittany said with a smile.

Hanna then said "It's late we should all be getting to bed, I have school tomorrow."

Santana asked "What's the plan for tomorrow?"

"I'm borrowing Hanna's car for the day, so I can drive to see Jenna. Quinn is going to come with me as well as my practice in the morning at the school."

"Practice," Hanna said shaking her head.

I replied with "Swim bag is packed and ready to go."

Santana asked, "What are Brittany and I going to do?"

"That park we saw briefly today has ducks and normally an ice-cream vender, you've got your car and I assume you know how to drive it."

"Duckies!" Brittany shouts excited.

"Thanks," Santana said with a smile.

Hanna asked, "Have you heard from Maya?"

I respond with "Yeah, she's staying at a friend's house. No one could really drive or walk for that matter."

"What does that mean?" Quinn asked.

Hanna asked "Haven't they? You didn't tell them."

"No, she hasn't really done it there."

"How do you know?"

"Because she normally texted me to join her, since being there she's only texted me twice and I've gone."

"San, what are they talking about?" Brittany asked.

Santana replied with "I'm not quite sure Britt."

"Emily?" Brittany questioned.

"Yes Dolphin," I answered.

"What are you talking about?"

Smiling, I say "Maya smokes or eats depending on the form but she smokes weed."

"And you've joined her?" Quinn questioned.

"Only a few times and I only have a few, I'm only stoned for an hour at the least."

"Badass," Santana whispered.

"Why would you smoke weed?"

"For fun Quinn, I'm not addict or anything. I've only had the stuff Maya gets so it's safe and we smoke or eat it together, never alone or with anyone else."

"This is crazy."

"Oh lighten up Q, you've had a couple of puffs but didn't like it," Santana said enlightening me.

"Well that's pretty cool Quinn," I say walking over to Quinn.

"Really?"

"Yes Quinn," I leant forward to kiss Quinn's lip.

"And on that note it's definitely bedtime," Hanna states.

Brittany asked "Where are we sleeping?" Pulling back from Quinn's lips, I turn my head which allows Quinn to kiss my face or anywhere her lips could reach.

I then say, "Quinn and I can sleep in the lounge room again, they can take the spare room."

"Are you sure?" Hanna questioned.

"Do you really want your Mum walking in on them having sex?"

"They wouldn't, would they?"

"We would," Santana said smirking at Hanna's slight disgusted.

"Rooms all yours, we are throwing the sheets away once you are gone," the four of us laughed at Hanna disgusted tone of voice as she left the room.

"Are you sure you don't mind us taking the room?" Santana asked.

"Take it," Quinn mumbled before turning my head to face her lips and latch onto them as soon as she could. Thirty minutes later when we had finally broken away from kissing, we discovered everyone was gone and in the lounge room was a mattress for us; as well as pillows and blankets. We had quickly made the mattress and once ready we lay down under the covers, starting separately before joining in the middle.

With my arm lazily around Quinn's mid-section, I asked "Are you okay going to sleep like this?

"I'm fine Emily."

"I just don't want to make you uncomfortable."

"You're not, I like going to sleep in your arms. I feel really safe and warm."

"Good," I state with a smile.

"Night Emily," Quinn whispered as she turned slightly to peck my lips.

"Night Quinn," I whispered back after the quick peck.