The pair had managed to spend most of the morning hidden away in the Berry basement not talking, and simply disappearing from the world. They had finished a movie and a half, a large bowl of popcorn, and a pot of coffee, when Rachel's phone vibrated on the table in front of her. It was a text from Steven. "How is the big gay Berry reunion going? Blaine bet me that you haven't told them yet. Don't make me lose. You really don't want to know what the stakes are but let's just say our kitchen may never be the same." Rachel stifled a giggle and that caught Quinn's attention.
"Boyfriend?" she asked.
"Nope. Roommate. And before you ask he is not boyfriend material since he is apparently going to be defiling our kitchen with Blaine Anderson." Rachel fired a text back. "Haven't told them yet, but for the love of G-d lie to Blaine because you CANNOT have sex in our kitchen!" Rachel hoped that Quinn would let things go and not ask any follow up questions, but once glance at the other woman told her she would not be getting off easy.
Quinn turned on the other end of the sofa, tucking her feet under her and leaning her chin on her hand. Her eyebrow quirked again and asked, "So your roommate is sleeping with Kurt Hummel's ex? What other gossip have I missed?"
That was not the question that Rachel expected and she exhaled loudly, releasing the breath she didn't realize she was holding. "You probably know more than I do. Other than Blaine, who I see way more of than I ever wanted to, everything I know is from Facebook. What dirt do youhave?"
"Not much, really. The Peace Corp made it difficult to really stay in touch with any regularity. San and Britt are in California. San wants to marry her but is too scared to ask. They visited me last summer and I learned they still have trouble keeping it in their pants. I can't even tell you how many times I caught them in various locations in my apartment that were not the guest room." Quinn paused for a moment, then said, "I really never thought you and I would be the only ones in Lima, even temporarily. When are you going to tell me why you are really here?"
Rachel had a choice to make and she quickly opted for the same vagary she had employed with her dads. She didn't know what it was that was keeping her from coming out with the typical Rachel Berry bravado, but for some reason she just didn't feel ready. "I just needed a break from all the auditioning and I was between roles so it was as good a time as any." She then opted for a quick subject change. "So, we know Steven is not my boyfriend. In fact, I have no boyfriend or even prospects, but what about you? Seeing anyone?"
Quinn's response was quick. "Let's just say that 'I have to go home and watch my dad die of cancer and I don't know when I will be back' is kind of a relationship killer. I had been seeing someone for a few months but they apparently weren't into that kind of drama. Their words." Rachel was taken aback when Quinn started to cry. She couldn't tell whether the impetus for the tears was the breakup, or a broader issue, but she responded in the only way she knew how. She slid to the other end of the sofa, wrapped her arm around Quinn's shoulder, and turned up the volume on Mean Girls. Quinn leaned in, sniffled loudly, and turned toward the television. Rachel leaned her nose against the top of Quinn's head, becoming enveloped in the coconutty smell of her shampoo.
The day turned into what Quinn called an "Oeuvre de Lindsay Lohan Marathon." Neither realized the entire afternoon had passed until they heard the door open at the top of the stairs and saw Hiram Berry as he made his way into the basement and flipped on the lights. He took in the pair of them and chuckled. "Quinn Fabray. It certainly has been a while since you have been in this basement. I didn't know you were in town. Are you able to join us for dinner?"
Rachel jumped in before Quinn could answer. "Daddy, Quinn is in town for her sister's wedding. I am sure she has something better to do as I have kept her here all day catching up. Quinn?" She had been trying to give the other woman an out, and the look of relief on Quinn's face was evident.
"Maybe another time, Mr. Berry. I really should help my mom with centerpieces or something." She grabbed Rachel's phone off the table and typed her number in. "You've got my number now." She was up the stairs before Rachel could finish saying the word goodbye.
Hiram turned to his daughter. "Quinn Fabray? You didn't mention you would be seeing her. I didn't realize you two were still close."
Rachel rolled her eyes. "We ran into each other at coffee this morning. We are catching up. There aren't exactly a lot of people in Lima to hang out with while you and dad are at work. Speaking of, where is he? Don't you two usually come home together?"
"Working late. It's just us tonight." With that, Rachel saw an opening that she hadn't even been looking for.
"In that case, Daddy, can I cook you dinner?" Hiram Berry knew his daughter and with those words, he knew something big was coming. Rachel was not a prolific cook by any means and the last time she had offered to make a meal, she had told him that she and Finn were over (which to Rachel was the end of the world and to her fathers was an enormous relief). That was nearly a decade ago and, as far as he knew, Rachel was single so he couldn't imagine what kind of bombshell she had to drop but he steeled himself for horrible cooking and worse news. He couldn't help himself and before he could stop them, the words came spewing out of his mouth.
"Rachel Barbra Berry, are you pregnant?"
Rachel doubled over with laughter, laughing so hard that tears poured from her eyes as she pounded her fist against the cushion of the sofa. Hiram, for his part, did not see the joke. "Ok then, Daughter. What is the big news you are going to drop on me over this dinner you plan to make, which, by the way, I hope for both our sakes means ordering take-out?"
Rachel, still laughing, gasped out, "Daddy you couldn't be more wrong. I'm..." and the words got stuck. She sobered, her laughter stopping abruptly. She glanced up once, meeting Hiram's expectant gaze, then turned her eyes down toward her hands, took a deep breath and completed the sentence. "...gay."
It was Hiram's turn to laugh, which did not go over well. She scowled petulantly and stood to storm up the stairs but her father caught her wrist first. Between chuckles he said, "Rachel, is that what this mystery trip is about? How could you think we would care one bit? You do remember the manI'm married to? Your other father? We aren't hypocrites, sweetie."
"But..." Rachel's lip quavered. "You aren't disappointed that I am perpetuating the stereotype that every bigot everywhere uses against gay parents? I don't want to ... No. I can't disappoint you and dad. I can't!" Her tears fell then with earnest, but she was wrapped in her father's strong arms and he kissed the top of her head, holding her until they stopped.
Hiram pulled back, looked Rachel in the eye and told her, "Don't be stupid. Now let's have some dinner. Who gets to tell Leroy?"
"You can call dad and tell him, daddy! I have to call Steven and stop him from fucking Blaine in our kitchen!" With that, Rachel flew out of the basement leaving a stunned, confused man in her wake.
Over dessert in the Berry kitchen Rachel explained the full situation to both of her parents. She told them about Dr. Rabinowitz's theory, about her one-night stand, and about her realizations regarding her past relationships. As she poured her heart out to her fathers she became more and more sure that she had found a root of her issues with love and commitment. They talked well into the night and Rachel went to bed feeling lighter, but with a nagging worry about Quinn that she just couldn't let go. As she was falling asleep, she pulled her phone from the nightstand and texted, "I meant what I said today, Q. Please let me know if you need anything. The Berry Basement is always open. And, after 12:00 pm we have alcohol."
Quinn's response was almost immediate. "What about mimosas and vegan doughnuts? I will be over at 9:00." Before she would respond, another message arrived. "And thanks."
Rachel shot back, "I like how you think, Q. Though I prefer screwdrivers..." She didn't expect any response and she particularly didn't expect to receive, "Didn't know you were so into things with the word screw in them...I'll bring juice. Add whatever you want."
Rachel responded, "I don't know what you are implying ;). I will let you sleep on that." She shut her phone off and closed her eyes, trying to convince herself it was not a bad idea to flirt with Quinn Fabray.