A/N: So...it's been forever since I last updated and haven't written anything since the last update until last night. And I think that'll show in my writing so apologies in advnce. No beta, just wanted to get my feet wet again, so to speak. This'll be short...just wnated to get a feel for whether anyone's still interested or if anyone even remembers this story. Thank you for taking the time to read and again, sorry for any errors in spelling/grammar.
Conversation has been light and full of laughs throughout dinner. Beth had taken to the vegetarian version of her favorite dish much better than her mother had anticipated, no thanks to a certain brunette's enthusiastic endorsement of the featured vegetable. Rachel's litany had even included a list of celebrities who have named the eggplant as their favorite vegetable - something Quinn wasn't quite sure if a product of the high school diva's extensive knowledge of celebrity histories or of her creative white lying skills. Either way, she has a hunch eggplant dishes would come in high demand from here on.
"So..." the younger blonde begins thoughtfully during a rare lull in conversation. "Can you tell me about high school and glee club? Mom's told me a little bit about it but I think there's a lot more that would be interesting. Aunt S and B haven't had a chance to tell me anything either. So maybe you can, Ms. Be- Rachel?" Beth finishes shyly, her questions slowing down as she realizes how eager she must have sounded.
Rachel sneaks a questioning glance at the older blonde, quietly asking for permission. Quinn replies with a barely discernible shrug, resigned to her daughter's persistence.
"Sure, I promised you I would anyway, didn't I?" The young teacher replies, earning a familiar mega-watt smile from the young girl. "Where would you like me to start?"
"How about glee club?" is Beth's immediate and predictable response. Hearing that her mother had a musical background in high school thrilled her no end. The only thing that had kept her from peppering Quinn with questions about it had been a motivation to hear about it from Ms. Berry.
"Glee club!" Rachel obviously shares the young blonde's enthusiasm. "My favorite high school topic," she declares. Quinn rolls her eyes teasingly, preferring to sit back comfortably and let the glee club captain do the talking. Which she does, for the next half hour, occasionally interrupted by a wide-eyed Beth's questions.
The young girl's unwavering attention amuses Rachel, however, she finds nothing more endearing than the involuntary looks the 8-year old blonde would throw her mother's way everytime Rachel would mention a particular detail about Quinn. They were looks of both genuine surprise and apparent adoration.
But what charms her more than anything is the subtle blush Quinn now sports, either from her daughter's adoring looks or the brunette's unexpected praise of her singing skills. And the fact that the blonde could barely look at Rachel when the brunette talks about only spurs the latter to keep at it.
"Somebody to love?" Beth interrupts, eyes even wider than usual. "You did that at Regionals? No wonder mom loves that song!" she reveals as she makes the connection.
"She does, huh?" Rachel quirks an eyebrow, surprised by this new information. She didn't think Quinn favored anything related to their high school glee club. Her gaze lands thoughtfully on the blonde whose head is down, a faint smile and that now seemingly permanent blush adorning her features.
"Did mom ever do a solo?" Beth's question steals her gaze away from the uncharacteristically bashful Quinn.
A slight frown mars her features, remembering her indignation at what she had then judged an unjust decision by Mr. Schuester.
"No, Beth, she never did," she declares quietly, shaking her head at the thought. "She should've though. I fought for it but our coach, I guess, didn't have and ear and a musical judgment keen enough to appreciate your mother's vocal abilities."
Her eyes return to Quinn who, this time and to her surprise, looks up and holds her gaze.
Their eyes lock for a few seconds before Quinn says quietly, "You did, didn't you?"
Rachel smiles softly, remembering exactly which song she thought would've been a perfect regionals solo. "It's A Man's Man's Man's World would have been compelling."
"Only you really believed that," Quinn says, chuckling self-consciously.
"That's because no one else had the musical training I had that allowed me to appreciate certain nuances in someone's voice and delivery that would elevate a song to another level. As much as I valued vocal skill and training, what no one realized then was that I put equal weight on the intangibles. And those intangibles you definitely possessed," Rachel declares with instinctual passion.
Quinn could only stare at the brunette wordlessly, completely caught off-guard by the compliment, high praise considering the source. "Wow," she finally mumbles. "For a moment there I was back in high school listening to one of your verbose rants," she adds, gently teasing the diva in hopes of diluting her own nerves. "But thank you, Rach," she adds softly, genuine affection coloring her simple words as she continues to hold the other girl's gaze.
"I only speak what I truly feel and believe, Quinn," Rachel replies, returning Quinn's smile.
The blonde considers this thoughtfully, the younger blonde now fidgeting somewhat impatiently for her turn to ask another question momentarily forgotten. "Yes you do, Rachel. You always did."
"What about wh-" Beth jumps in, unable to reign her excitement and curiosity much longer.
"Beth," Quinn interrupts her daughter, shaken from her staring contest with the brunette, "it's getting late, you can ask Rachel more next time," she announces, not surprised to see her daughter's pout and prepared for an expected protest. "Nope," she reiterates firmly before Beth could even begin to express her objection, "Rachel has answered your questions for more than half an hour now and I have to clean up, too."
"I promise you can have an hour at least next dinner, ok?" Rachel pipes in, seeing Quinn's determination, belatedly realizing the implication of her words. "I mean next time we see each other, which would not necessarily be over dinner. It could be at school or -" she clarifies immediately to save herself from further embarrassment, unable to risk a glance at Quinn.
"No, you said next dinner, Rachel. That means you have to come again tomorrow," Beth challenges, turning to her mother. "She can come tomorrow for dinner again, can't she, mom?""
"Beth, it's not really necessary to have me for dinner again tomorrow, your mom - "
"Will be more than happy to sharpen her vegetarian culinary skills even further and have Rachel over for dinner again tomorrow," Quinn cuts Rachel's protests off, silently conveying her sincerity to the brunette with a look. "That's of course, only if Rachel hasn't made previous dinner plans then we'd have to find another time to have her back for dinner." She looks from her daughter back to Rachel, inwardly eager for the brunette's response.
"I...uh...I don't really want to trouble you..."
"You wouldn't," Quinn interrupts her hesitation once again, pausing for a moment before deciding to add softly, "I'd love to cook you dinner anytime, Rach." She smiles again, only this time shyly.
"How can I refuse that then" Rachel finally relents, "especially considering how delivious dinner tonight was," she adds.
"Woohoo!" Beth exclaims excitedly, for once demonstrating a vocabulary more age-appropriate.
"Young lady," Quinns directs to her daughter, "we need to have rules though. Such as you can only ask Rachel 5 questions and that's it, ok?"
Beth considers this for a second then, deciding it is a fair enough compromise, nods. "Ok mom. I'll have tonight and tomorrow morning to carefully decide which questions to ask. Thanks," she declares seriously, leading to the two adults at the table exchanging amused and fond looks.
Once Quinn has Beth safely tucked in bed after en extended goodbye with Rachel, she pauses outside her daughter's door, oddly nervous about returning to the living room where Rachel awaits. Nervous about spending what's left of the evening, that's if the brunette does not decide to head home soon, alone with Rachel.
With characteristic determination, she overcomes her nerves to will herself to make the short trip back to the living room where she finds Rachel sitting quietly on the couch, one leg tucked underneath her.
"Hey, you ok there?" she asks as she walks in, confident Quinn smile in place.
Rachel looks up, mildly startled. "Yes, yes...everything's ..ok," she replies, hating how nervous she feels, completely oblivious to the blonde sharing the same state.
"Uhm, want a glass of wine or something?" Quinn offers, pausing a safe distance from Rachel.
Rachel considers this for a second. "Maybe not. I don't really think I'm up for alcohol tonight."
Quick to quell her disappointment, Quinn's brain hustles for an alternative offer. "Ice cream?"
Quinn watches Rachel's face light up, inwardly giving herself a congratulatory at. As nervous as she may be right now, she would gladly battle her nerves if it means spending a little more time with the brunette. "I only have cherry garcia and plain old vanilla, I think," she mutters, half to herself.
"Cherry garcia!" Rachel beams, reminding Quinn of the 8 year old she had just tucked in to bed.
"I would take that as an affirmative then?" she asks, eager for confirmation.
Rachel only nods in response, continuing to beam at the irrevocably charmed blonde who bends to pick up the TV remote before offering the device to the brunette.
"Here, I give you free reign. Pick whatever you want to watch. Or, if you're so inclined, my daughter has quite the musical collection. I wouldn't complain about watching one of those either. Heaven knows I've had enough practice."
Quinn's teasing grin widens as Rachel gives her an exaggerated offended look. The young teacher's frown disappears quickly, replaced by a brief pensive look. "I will take you up on that offer, Quinn," she finally says, "but not tonight."
Disappointment seeps in to the blonde once again, thinking Rachel did not want another reason to stay longer. Before she can reply, the brunette beats her to it, continuing, "How about tonight, we just talk?" Rachel asks with more than a little apprehension, looking about as nervous as Quinn feels. "I mean catch up...you know, on what has happened since we graduated. If you'd rather not, I'm sure I can find a suitable show for us to watch or -"
"Rach," Quinn interrupts the nervous rambling she deems utterly adorable, "it's ok. We can talk...catch up. I'd love that."
They smile at each other before Quinn walks off toward the kitchen, both struggling with equal amounts of nervous excitement.