Wow. The response has definitely surprised me. I would've been happy with 1 review/feedback but getting more than that's such a pleasant surprise. Got me writing in a jiffy. :) Thank you a bunch, everyone who reviewed, read, added alerts, etc. Definitely spurs me to keep going with this. I can only hope I'll find the time to squeeze it in between school and work. Rest assured, I will try my darnedest.
Here it is, I was in a rush to write the next chapter. I hope I didn't screw this up too badly.
Quinn has spent the last 5 minutes trying in vain to convince her resolute daughter to get out of the SUV and "say hi to Auntie S at least."
"Why can't she come out to say hi instead?" is all she's been able to get out of the 8 year old. Nearing the end of her rope and having almost forgotten about the music teacher who was supposed to try her hand at cajoling Beth out of the car, she is startled by a knock on the window.
Knowing it would be the almost forgotten Rachel James knocking, she holds a hand up signalling for the teacher to give her a second while she whispers a plea to her daughter, "Beth be nice to Ms. James please, ok. Aunt S says she's a wonderful music teacher and she'd really love to meet you."
She is pleasantly surprised when she notices her daughter's attention piqued by this new bit of information.
This just might work.
Finally, she turns around to let her potential savior in, finding the woman with her back turned, phone up to her ear. She climbs out, heart skipping a beat at the familiarity of the other female's form.
Just as she straightens up, Rachel James turns and they meet face to face for the first time.
Or maybe not because, as it turns out, Rachel James is indeed Rachel Berry.
"Ber- Rachel?"
"Quinn?"
They say at the same time, sporting identical looks of wide-eyed, open-mouthed surprise.
"You're Rachel James?" Quinn finally manages to ask, her surprise waning, replaced by more of that inexplicable excitement at this unexpected meeting.
"Rachel James? Yeah, I guess you can still call me that," the brunette replies hesitantly. "And I'm guessing you're the desperate mom?"
The blonde laughs quietly, for the first time noticing the other girl's appearance. Nothing much has changed. The tiny brunette looks as tiny as she did back in high school. Her hair still flows past her shoulders, just as shiny as Quinn remembers it from eight years ago. Her style has definitely evolved, more mature yet still with a hint of the old Rachel. No argyle sweater, instead she's garbed in a soft pink cashmere-looking V-neck top and light gray skirt that shows off her legs.
Oh yeah, the legs haven't changed, Quinn thinks to herself, baffled that she remembers how amazing Rachel Berry's legs were back when she used to wear skirts much shorter than the one she wears now.
Dragging her gaze up, she scrutinizes the brunette's face this time, her gaze confident and not at all discreet. Law school has given her lots of practice in sizing up the opposition and not hiding it. Only this time, it's not the opposition she's sizing up. It's this surprisingly attractive version of Rachel Berry. A version of Rachel Berry whose smile is still of the mega-watt variety, however, with a certain softness and calm mixed in with it. And her eyes have retained that hyper, ever-excited gleam only they reflect excitement of a more tempered, mature kind.
Yeah, this definitely is Rachel Berry. Only a mature, definitely intriguing version.
"Quinn?" Rachel's amused voice snaps her out of her scrutiny. "Where did you go? Were you thinking of the most suitable way to apologize for your conduct in high school? Because if you are, I'm going to grab myself a chair as we may be here for a while considering the sheer quantity of discourtesy you demonstrated toward me."
Quinn's mouth opens, her instinct to refute the brunette's lengthy diatribe. She quickly swallows whatever argument she had been prepared to dole out, noticing the teasing glint in Rachel's eyes. She shakes her head instead, smiling at the other girl.
"You got me there. You're just as loquacious as ever, obviously. As for the apology, I could start on it now but it would seem forced after that tirade of yours, teasing or not."
This elicits laughter from the brunette. "Loquacious huh? Law school's taught you big words, too, I see," she banters back, surprised that this relaxed - quite enjoyable even - conversation with Quinn doesn't weird her out.
It actually feels natural.
"How'd you know I went to law sch-"
A sharp knock on the car window interrupts Quinn's curiousity. She slaps her forehead, realizing she's forgotten about her daughter inside the car.
"I believe there's someone I have to meet," Rachel reminds her.
"Yeah, of course, of course..." Quinn replies, opening the car door and sticking her head in. "Honey, I want you to meet someone. Her name's Ms. Ra-"
"Rachel Berry-James," the little girl finishes for her mother, surprising the older blonde.
"You know her?"
"Duh, mom," Beth replies with an eye roll. "She was in Rent. And a few other broadway musicals."
"Oh," is all Quinn could muster for a few seconds, a little embarrassed that her 8 year old daughter seems to know more about her high school classmate - and Glee club captain - than she does. Recovering her wits, she quickly takes advantage of her daughter's undeniable interest. "Well then, what are you waiting for? Come out and meet her," she tugs the young girl's hand gently.
She is pleasantly surprised when the girl indeed crawls out of the SUV to stand in front of a smiling Rachel, now crouched low to Beth's height.
"Hey there, rockstar," Rachel greets the awestruck girl. "I heard from Santana that you're quite the musical prodigy. She told me you play the guitar and piano quite excellently and that you've a voice even better than your mom's."
Quinn laughs, not at all offended by the comparison. Her feelings at the moment are far from negative. For one, her best friend's obvious pride in her little girl touches her. And then there's the unbelievably comfortable manner Rachel seems to be interacting with her daughter.
"My mom sings?"
Beth's disbelieving query catches Rachel off-guard. "You didn't know? Your mom definitely sings. She was in glee club with me and Santana, as a matter of fact."
"My mom?"
"Yes, your mom, sweetie. She was quite good, too. Although occasionally she went sh-"
"Sharp but that's only because I didn't have the training Rachel did," Quinn interrupts, earning a highly-amused giggle from the brunette.
"That's right, Quinn. But you were good nonetheless," the brunette adds, looking up to shoot the blonde a genuine smile.
Quinn smiles back and for a moment their gazes lock, soft smiles on both their faces.
"Wow, I didn't know that," Beth's quiet voice breaks their brief staring moment.
"Well, I could tell you a lot more about what your mom was up to back in high school if you drop by my music class after school. And maybe you can let me hear you sing or play the guitar in return," Rachel offers, sending a quick teasing glance at a still smiling Quinn.
"Ok."
Quinn's eyebrows raise in shock, surprised by her daughter's quick assent. Rachel's joyous clap snatches her attention and for a moment, she once again remembers the Rachel Berry she knew from high school.
"So, since this is your first day, how about I pick you up from your last class and walk with you to the music room?"
Quinn smiles gratefully at the brunette, still shaking her head at how easy it has been.
"Ok, thank you Ms. Berry-James," Beth politely replies, smiling shyly.
"Rachel will do, Beth. Or if you're not comfortable calling me that in school, Ms. Berry will suffice."
Quinn is unable to hold back a chuckle at the brunette's use of big words even when conversing with an 8 year old. "That means Ms. Berry will d-"
"I know what "suffice" means, Mom," Beth interrupts her mother, sending her a mildly affronted look.
"I had no doubt you would," Rachel quickly chimes in, looking challengingly at Quinn.
"Of course you do, sweetie. Sorry. I forget sometimes that you have a vocabulary that could rival Ms. Berry's here."
Once again, Rachel giggles, a little nose-wrinkling accompanying the sound.
How cute is she?
Quinn shakes off the unexpected thought, almost horrified that she could think that of the girl whose life she made miserable in high school.
"So...shall we go meet your teacher and new classmates then?" Rachel tries, careful not to push too hard as per Santana's warning.
For a moment, Beth sports the same terrified look causing Quinn to hold her breath, equally terrified that her daughter would retreat once again.
Beth holds her hand out tentatively and Rachel, not missing a beat, takes the tiny hand in hers, smiling to reassure the obviously insecure child.
Quinn's sigh of relief is audible and before she knows it, she has a startled Rachel wrapped in a hug.
The brunette overcomes her shock in time to return the gesture by wrapping her free arm around the taller girl's waist and returning the blonde's squeeze.
"Thank you so much, Rachel," Quinn whispers close to her ear.
"My pleasure, Quinn. Don't worry about it," Rachel replies, patting Quinn's back.
The blonde lets Rachel go but not before giving the tiny brunette's forearm a squeeze. "And Rachel...it's good to see you again ."
The smile that went with the spoken sentiment is genuine and friendly, returned in much the same manner by Rachel.
"Likewise, Quinn...likewise."
Quinn crouches down after trading another quick smile with Rachel, giving her daughter a quick hug and a lingering kiss on the cheek. "I love you, honey. Have fun today, ok, and I'll see you after class."
"Bye mom, love you too," Beth replies, giving her mother a quick squeeze with her tiny arms.
Quinn watches the blonde and brunette pair walking toward the school entrance, hearing traces of their quiet conversation.
She continues to watch Beth and Rachel, waving back when the twosome pause at the double doors to turn and send her a quick wave.
She couldn't help but notice that for the first time since that morning, her daughter is smiling.
And she has one Rachel Berry James to thank for that.