So I went on a writing binge the past couple days and I finished this chapter and I am almost finished with the next. I wanted to address the reviews I have gotten on the reality of their divorce and child custody issues. As I mentioned before I have no experience in family law issues so I may be way off but that isn't a huge factor in the plot. I also received another review about the church's opinion on the divorce and that will be discussed in this chapter briefly. Joe is not a major character in this story so he will only be seen a few times if that. Anyway, This chapter is extra long and includes the first flashback (probably not the last one) of Quinn the night before her wedding. The next chapter is going to be a major so this is just the lead up. I will probably post the next chapter tomorrow and the following one maybe tomorrow as well. As usual, reviews are appreciated and thank you to everyone who has reviewed and story followed this story! It gives me inspiration to write more the more good reviews I get.
That night, Quinn was helping Brittany with dinner as Santana took on babysitting duty. Quinn knew that Santana would never admit it but she really loved kids if she knew the kid, if it was a stranger's child, she hated them and their parents. Quinn peeked her head into the living room of the townhouse checking to make sure everything was good. Chloe was sitting on Santana's lap as she read her a story. Quinn's heart melted a bit as she motioned Brittany over to witness how adorable the sight in front of her was. "Oh my god" Brittany whispered as she smiled widely with her hand over her heart. "Sanny is so good with kids. I can't wait until we decide to have a baby" Brittany said as Quinn instinctively rubbed her swollen belly.
"What does it feel like Quinn?" Brittany asked as Quinn smiled at the blonde. "It's like nothing you can ever imagine in your life. Your child is growing inside you and you made it." Quinn said as she took Brittany's hand putting it on her stomach and pushed softly in as the baby moved and kicked. "Try talking to him, he can hear us" Quinn said as Brittany got close to her swollen belly and smiled. "Hi Baby, I'm your Auntie B, I'm going to show you so much when you come out of there like where Lord Tubbington hides Auntie Sanny's cigars and how to dance just like me. You're going to be a unicorn, I already know it." Brittany said as the baby became more active. "See Britt, he likes your voice" Quinn said as Brittany stood up and smiled. "Everyone likes my voice Quinn, it's a fact" Brittany said as she went back to cooking dinner.
Dinner had been a usual occurrence in that home, Chloe made a mess, Quinn was trying to control her, and Santana & Brittany were getting touchy under the table. After dinner, Quinn gave Chloe a bath and then put her to bed on time at 8. Quinn had her laptop out and was typing up some listings for a few homes she was selling when she got a text from Rachel. "Hey Quinn, I don't know if your asleep or putting your daughter to sleep. Text me back when you get this" Quinn read out loud as she text back promptly. "I'm just catching up on some work, Chloe just went to sleep & Santana and Britt are in their room doing god knows what to each other" she typed quickly as she yawned.
Pregnancy had made Quinn exhausted constantly especially after chasing Chloe around all day, she would go to sleep but she knew that her pay check depended on these listings. "Well good to know that never changed. I just got home from rehearsal, NYADA is putting on a teachers showcase and I have a few songs I am performing." Rachel had texted as Quinn smiled reading it. She could imagine Rachel's voice at that moment in her mind singing some show stopping Broadway number. "Your job sounds like it's a lot more fun than mine. Listing people's houses is boring work" Quinn text back as she submitted the first listing just thinking about the commission that she was going to get. It was one of the nicest homes in a newer subdivision of Lima.
"I never saw you as the real estate type Quinn. I always saw you as being a writer or an artist or both! You were very talented with your poetry and your drawings were very detailed." Quinn read the text message out loud and laughed softly knowing exactly what Rachel was referring to, the pornographic pictures she had drawn of Rachel on the bathroom stall walls back their sophomore year of high school. "Very funny Berry. I will say those were my best work thank you very much. I've been into photography lately… well not exactly lately. I always have been into photography, I think since I had Chloe I have just been taking pictures of her a lot more" Quinn texted back as she thought about what Rachel was saying to her, Quinn wasn't built for real estate like her mother was. She was more creative than that and she had neglected that side of her for awhile. "That's great Quinn! You made me look pretty good in those pictures too. I actually have a question for you, why did you leave Yale?" Quinn read it and her heart dropped.
She knew that Rachel would question the obvious when it came to her life. "I failed pretty much every class I enrolled in Rachel. My mind and my passion weren't there. I was called mediocre by every professor I had and after a while I actually believed it. I loved being in New Haven because it was beautiful but Yale just wasn't for me." Quinn went to typing her second listing as her phone beeped quickly. "Do you think it wasn't there because drama and being an actress maybe wasn't the right path for you, maybe Yale wasn't the right path for you? Quinn you are the smartest, strongest, most beautiful girl I have ever known. I know that you are better than being a real estate agent in a small town in Ohio and honestly if you wanted to be a real estate agent, can't you just come to New York where the big deals happen" Quinn read it and her eyes just landed on beautiful. Rachel thought she was beautiful; She had heard it from the girl all the time and now she actually believed it. Quinn felt as big as a house and exhausted but Rachel Berry thought she was beautiful want wanted her to come to New York.
"I doubt New York could handle me now. I'm about the size of Manhattan right now since I am pregnant" Quinn texted back as she finished the second listing and rubbed her belly. She saved the other two for later and walked into the guest bedroom that was now considered Quinn's room. She changed into her nightgown and laid in bed as Rachel texted her back. "I highly doubt that Quinn. Even when you were pregnant with Beth you were not big at all. I'm going to let you go to sleep because I know I am exhausted and you must be too, carrying and creating a human and all. I'll text you in the morning Quinn. Sweet dreams" Rachel texted back as Quinn simply wrote back. "Sweet dreams Rachel". She laid her head down and thought about everything that was going on. She was so confused at that point because she knew that the more she talked to Rachel, the more her feelings would come back, she was afraid of rejection though. She didn't want to lose the friendship that they were reestablishing but other options did she have. She closed her eyes slowly and drifted off to dreams of Rachel and her being together once and for all.
Quinn woke up the next morning and the townhouse was strangely quiet. Next to her nightstand sat a note; "Q, B and I went to work and your mom took little Q with her. You were still sleeping so your mom said not to worry about it today and take it easy. S" Quinn read out loud happy that she was going to have a bit of a break that day. Santana and Brittany owned their own dance studio and it was quickly becoming one of the best in Ohio. Mothers would drive over an hour every day just to have Brittany or Mike teach them. Santana worked in the more business part of things but would occasionally teach a singing lesson or help out with musical theater. Quinn was tempted to take a job there once the baby was born because she wanted something else. Brittany and Santana had both offered her any position she wanted, even a chance to buy in on the business and be a partner with them as well as teach anything she wanted.
Quinn looked at her phone seeing that Rachel had already texted her that morning. "Good morning Quinn. I figured you were up early with your daughter and thought I would say hello to you this morning" the text said as Quinn smiled. "My mom took her this morning and let me sleep in. I really needed it because I was so exhausted." Quinn texted back as she cuddled to her pillow yawning softly. She sent Santana a text next "Hey do you want B want to meet me at Babies R Us later to register for my baby shower. We can go out to dinner after" She sent the text then got another from Rachel. "That's great Quinn, I'm glad your mom was able to take her this morning. I was wondering if you wanted to Skype today if you weren't busy." The text said as Quinn smiled "Sure Rachel, I'm going to go get Chloe and drop her off a Joe's parent's house for their visitation then we can." Quinn text back as her phone rang and it was Joe. "Yes Joe?" Quinn asked as she sounded annoyed.
"Well hello to you too Quinn" Joe said back sarcastically. "You only want to call me when you want to ask me something. What is it?" Quinn asked as he quickly spoke up. "Well I won't be able to take Chloe today. My parents went out of town and I just can't do it alone" Joe said as Quinn rolled her eyes. "Joe she is your daughter too. You can't expect me to freaking be the only one to take care of her" Quinn said starting to get really pissed off with him. "Quinn don't start this, I can't do it. I called you and I'm sorry" Joe said as Quinn sighed angrily. "You know what Joe, Why don't you sign over your damn rights if you can't do this! I can't be left with making plans and having you bail on my daughter at the last-minute" Quinn said full of venom as she shook her head. "I'm not doing that! You know that! She is our daughter but I can't take care of her alone! I've never had to" Joe said trying to explain to Quinn as she sarcastically laughed. "Wow, you've never had to take care of her alone before. I wonder why! I was always doing it! You don't even know what our daughter likes let alone how to provide the basics for her. Santana and Brittany are more her father's than you! Have fun screwing Eve during the time you're supposed to have my daughter" Quinn hung up and let out a loud scream of annoyance.
She knew stress wasn't good for the baby so she started to take deep breaths trying to calm down. She looked down at the text from Rachel "That sounds great! Let me know when you want to. I have all day" Quinn read out loud as she replied "Well Joe bailed on Chloe so I'm going to pick her up and then we can. You'll be able to meet her which will be fun." Quinn texted back as she got in a long hot shower and relaxed away what had just happened. She couldn't believe how this visitation thing was already working out. Part of her just wished that Joe would sign his rights over to both of her kids and Quinn could just be a single mother uninterrupted.
Quinn called her mother when she got out of the shower and let her know what was going on with Joe. Her mother promised to bring Chloe back over once she was done eating breakfast at her mother's house. Quinn got dressed and ready for the day and read her phone again smiling. "That's great! I can't wait to see her! I bet she looks every bit a Fabray which of course means she's beautiful" Rachel texted back as Quinn smiled warmly. The more Rachel sent texts like this, the more Quinn was falling back in love with her. Quinn had always known that she was bisexual, even when she would bully Rachel, she knew deep down that it was because she had a crush on the girl. She didn't know what she was going to do when Rachel was in Lima because she knew that a part of her would blurt out her feelings for the girl.
She heard the doorbell ring and Quinn stood up to answer it. After looking through the little peephole and seeing her mother and Chloe standing there she opened it. "It's my Chloe Bug! Your back!" Quinn said happily as she took Chloe who was going absolutely crazy. "MOMMY!" The little girl squealed as she was transferred from Judy to Quinn's arms. "Did you have fun with grandma for a couple of hours?" Quinn asked as Chloe nodded and Quinn smiled at Judy. "Thank you Mom, I needed the rest, I was so exhausted last night." Quinn said sitting Chloe on the floor and the little girl rushing over to her toys. "Quinnie its ok! I love spending time with Chloe, you know that!" Judy said smiling at her daughter as Quinn looked over to make sure that Chloe wasn't listening in.
"You know how Chloe was supposed to go to Joe's today right? Well he just called and canceled saying if his parents aren't going to be home then he isn't taking her alone" Quinn said quietly as Judy rolled her eyes just like Quinn does and shook her head. "Quinnie you need to keep track of this. If he does this a lot then you need to take him to court! This isn't fair to Chloe or you" Judy said as Quinn nodded in agreement. "I told him he should just sign his rights over if he is going to pull this stunt every time" Quinn said as Judy looked at Quinn disapprovingly. "You need to keep your temper in check Quinn. He could take you to court for outbursts like that" Judy said understanding why Quinn would have an outburst. She wanted to personally ring the boy's neck for what he did to her daughter and grandkids. She was just happy that he and his little tart were kicked out of the church and he was no longer going to be the pastor at their church. She agreed with Quinn though, she wanted him to sign his rights over and go on with his life. Judy could remember the night before the wedding like it was just yesterday.
-Flashback-
Santana, Brittany, and Quinn sat in Quinn's bedroom at the Fabray household the night before Quinn's wedding. They had just come back from the rehearsal dinner and they were having a sleepover on Quinn's last night as a single woman. Quinn had been acting different recently and Judy was concerned about her. Judy had asked her multiple times if this was what she wanted and if she was really in love with Joe, each time the answer was "Of course mother". Judy just hoped that Quinn knew that she still had time to back out if this wasn't what she wanted. Nobody would be upset at her or blame her for everything if she changed her mind right now. Judy had been through a divorce and knew that it was a horrible experience; it was something she didn't want for her little Quinnie.
Judy was in the hall when stopped by hearing Santana talking to Quinn. "Q, are you sure about this wedding? I mean you seem just numb to it all. That's not how you're supposed to feel when you get married" Santana said as Brittany chimed in. "Yeah Q, I always saw you ending up with Rachel. Not Joe, I mean she's not even cute… Rachel, yeah she's cute" Brittany said as Quinn laughed softly. "Rachel never wanted me like that. I tried many times to get the girl to admit her feelings for me and she never did" Quinn said Santana laughed softly. "Q, it requires you to grow a pair and tell her how you feel! Everyone knows you love Rachel but you act like it's some big secret" Santana said as Judy's eyes got wide; her daughter had feelings for a woman. That was something she didn't expect to hear even though the thought had crossed her mind before.
Quinn had grown very attached to Rachel Berry throughout their senior year of high school and Judy just waited for the day that Quinn would come out to her and say she was bisexual or even a lesbian. Unlike Russell, her ex-husband, Judy was more liberal when it came to gays and lesbians. She would accept it if Quinn was because she had already lost her once and didn't want to lose her again. "She has Brody! She's straight S, She wouldn't love me even if I tried. You didn't see her face when she was with him. It was the same as when she was with Finn times ten! I can't compete with that and honestly if she's happy then I will let her be happy even though it hurts!" Quinn said her voice cracking. Judy just wanted to rush into the bedroom and hug Quinn tightly and call off the wedding. "So you're settling for Joe, just because you want Rachel to be happy with some loser she met in New York that you don't even know she is even with anymore" Santana said trying to understand the situation as a whole. "Sanny, be nice. Q is hurting, I can tell by her eyes" Brittany said as Quinn started to cry.
"I have to do this. If Rachel wanted me she would've called me or even emailed me by now and obviously she doesn't care about me anymore" Quinn said as Judy had tears pooling in her eyes. Quinn wasn't doing this for the right reasons and she had to agree with Santana. "Santana just let it be, I'm marrying Joe tomorrow and if anyone objects I will never forgive them. Now let's some sleep, it's my wedding day tomorrow." Quinn said as the light clicked off and Judy walked to her bedroom. It hurt her to hear that Quinn was settling just like she did with Russell. She just hoped that Quinn would come to her senses before it was too late to turn back.
Judy was snapped out of her thoughts when Quinn was looking at her weirdly. "You ok mom? You went somewhere else for a bit" Quinn asked as Chloe tried to walk over to the TV and turn it on. Quinn turned on Little Einstein's because it was musical and educational and Chloe happily sat down watching the show. "I'm ok Quinnie, I just was thinking about some things. I should let you go. I have to go to some meetings and show a couple houses" Judy said as Quinn hugged her tightly. "I love you mom" Quinn said as Judy smiled at her warmly. "I love you too Quinnie" Judy said as she walked over and kissed Chloe's head softly not to disturb her. She walked out and Quinn watched her mother get into her car and drive off.