DameonCain lol. Maybe a little, but I don't think things went too bad, do you?

Mslspatz Thank you. :)

gllover22 I'm glad that you liked it. And I hope that you enjoy the conversation they have with Judy as well.

Harley Quinn Davidson Thank you.

LaurenKnight13 I'm sorry things with you and your ex didn't work out, but I'm glad that you've kept in contact with her parents. That sounds like a very special relationship. :) I agree, Rachel and Quinn are meant to last. At least, in this story they are.

icesk8er I'm glad you enjoyed it. :) It was certainly a lot of fun to write. I'll leave you to decide how you think the phone call with her mom went (but I liked how it played out.)

Guest: Thank you.

RikkuKashi I don't know about fun, but definitely neccessary. I hope that you enjoy it. :)

Guest: Yes. Exactly. It'll be an adjustment for Quinn, but it'll get easier.

Aerize Yay. You made it. :) I'm glad that you decided to undertake the task of reading the story, and that you're still enjoying it 40 chapters in. I hope that you continue to enjoy it.

scorpgirl I will not abandon the story. I promise. I might not be able to update as frequently at times, but I've got a lot planned for these two.

Chapter 41

Quinn stared down at the phone in her hand for a moment then, taking a shaky breath she dialed slowly. Her fingers fumbled over the small keys, causing her to have to go back and correct a few times but eventually she completed the number and hit call. She brought the phone up to her ear and bit her lip as it rang,once, twice a third time. Part of her hoped that the call would go unanswered. Then she wouldn't have to deal with her mother but she could feel good about the fact that she'd tried. And they could put this off for another day, one where she felt much more prepared for the conversation.

"Hello?" The greeting dashed that hope and Quinn fell silent for a moment, startled into speechlessness. "Hello?

Rachel squeezed her waist gently and pressed a kiss to the back of her neck. Gathering her courage, Quinn cleared her throat to respond. "Hey, Mom. It's me."

"Quinnie, Hello," her mother greeted her warmly, enthusiastically. "It's nice to hear from you. Is everything okay?" Her jovial tone faltered, tension slipping into her voice.

"I'm fine, Mom," Quinn hastened to reassure her. "I'm just...here with Rachel and we wanted to say hello. I'm not calling at a bad time, am I?" She asked, half-hoping that her Mom would say yes, that she was on her way out the door or had company coming or was in the middle of some all-consuming task that would require her to say a quick goodbye. Even though this phone call had been her idea, Quinn still wasn't entirely convinced that it was a good idea.

"Rachel's there?" Her mom sounded interested and pleased by the prospect, which made Quinn feel cautiously hopeful. She still wasn't certain she trusted this newfound acceptance her mother was expresing but if she could still sound warm and pleasant after being ambushed with that particular piece of information then maybe things would go smoothly.

"Yeah, Mom. She's right here," Quinn said, craning her neck to peer back at her girlfriend, who was biting her lip and staring at her with wide, hopeful eyes. "Just dying for me to put the phone on speaker so she can say hello. Is that all right?"

"Of course, dear. Put her on."

Quinn pulled the phone away from her ear to hit the speaker button and then held it out in front of her. "Can you hear me?"

"Loud and clear, Quinnie. Rachel, hello."

"Hello, Mrs. Fabray. I'm glad that you were available to take our call."

"Judy, dear, please. Of course. I always make time for my Quinn."

Quinn rolled her eyes at that little piece of revisionist history, but said nothing.

"And I'm happy to...meet you, such at it is," she said, laughing lightly.

Rachel laughed right along with her. "I realize that this isn't exactly ideal. Meeting of a significant other's parents should be done in person. However, I do think that this situation warrants some leeway from the normal protocols."

"Yes, I would have to agree," Judy said with a light chuckle. "Living several states apart does make it a little difficult to have you over for Sunday dinner."

"Yeah, it really does. Although, Quinn and I were discussing holidays plans recently and, while we can't commit to anything just yet because neither of us know what our work schedule is going to be, we were really hoping that you'd spend Thanksgiving with us. Whether we come out to you, or you come here we can sort out later."

"Thanksgiving? Oh that would be wonderful. Although, if you don't mind, I really must insist on flying out to New York. I've never been. And I've heard so much about how wonderful the city is that time of year."

"Oh, it's beautiful," Rachel agreed. "Especially if we've gotten some snow. Central Park is just magical. And of course all the stores have started putting up their Christmas displays. Some of them are quite impressive. Plus, you can get some holiday shopping done, find some unique gifts that you won't find in Lima. Oh, and we can go to the Macy's parade, if you'd like."

"That would be wonderful. I've watched it on tv for years. When I could wrestle the remote away from Russel and change it away from his football, at least."

Quinn couldn't help but crack a smile at that, it was one of the few fond memories she had of Fabray family holidays. Her mom and aunts insisting on the parade while Russel and the uncles tried to keep up with the football games. The kids hadn't cared one way or another, but it had been amusing to watch the back and forth. At least for awhile. Eventually, Russel would end up shouting down the dissent and Quinn's mom and her aunts would retreat into the kitchen to gossip and complain about the men.

"Oh then we'll definitely have to do that. I haven't been to see it in person in years," Rachel admitted. "And I must admit, I miss it. I warn you now, I'll probably complain about the cold the entire time though."

Quinn bit her lip, refraining from making some kind of comment about how she'd keep Rachel warm. Although, from the way Rachel bumped her chin against her shoulder blade and squeezed her waist, she had a feeling the other woman had read her mind.

"But I will be enjoying myself, I guarantee."

Judy laughed lightly. "Noted. I'll keep that in mind. Not a fan of the winter weather, yet you chose to live on the east coast?" she inquired. "Are there not a land of acting opportunities in warm, sunny California?"

"Of course there are, just not for me. I've been Broadway bound since I was in utero," Rachel said. "My biological mother was an actress and my fathers are both very into the arts. I was listening to Sondheim soundtracks in the womb."

"So acting has been the goal for you all along has it?" Judy inquired. "It's a tough buisness to get into, from what I've heard."

"It is."

"And you've managed to find some success, if the tabloid photos that I received earlier in the week are any indication," Judy said.

Quinn sucked in a breath. She'd been expecting her mother to bring that up, now she just had to wait and see what she said about it. Rachel squeezed her waist reassuringly, but she barely felt it.

"From my understanding, they don't take photos of just anybody, you have to have made a name for yourself."

"I suppose that's true."

"Kind of an odd badge of honor, I'd think," Judy continued, sounding speculative. "To work to achieve recognition in your field in the form of people taking pictures of you and invading your personal life."

"I would have to agree. It's kind of a strange testament to having made it."

'I'm not sure if I should offer congratulations or condolences. It's wonderful that you're meeting the goals you set out to achieve, but what a price to pay for them. However, I did find that picture of you two to be very sweet."

"That's very kind of you to say, Ms. Fabray."

"Judy, dear. Please."

"Sorry. Judy."

The conversation was going well. Quinn wasn't contributing, but it didn't seem like she needed to. Rachel was being her usual charming, enthusiastic self and her mother was respnding in kind. She should have been relieved. She should be pleased and greatful that the two of them were getting along so well but all Quinn could feel was irritated.

Where had this version of her mother been when she was twelve and stuggling with body issues and low self-esteem? Or fifteen and pregnant and terrified? Or nineteen and dealing with the realities of her first adult relationship?

Quinn knew that it was pointless to be angry over things from that past that couldn't be changed but she couldn't help it. Listening to her mother chatting easily with Rachel all she could think about was the last few years of having to hide who she was because she was afraid of losing the only family she had left.

"So, tell me Rachel, how did you and Quinn end up together? My daughter is always so guarded about these kinds of things. I'm sure you know how she gets, and I'm dying to know the details."

Quinn couldn't prevent herself from snorting in disbelief. Guarded? Sure, she would admit to that, but did her mother really not understand where that had come from? She felt Rachel's grip tighten around her waist but instead of comforting her, it made her feel constricted so she shrugged off her girlfriend's touch and paced away.

She could feel Rachel's eyes on her as she strode the length of the kitchen, could hear the faint murmer of her voice in the background but there was a buzzing in her head that blocked out the actual words. She had thought that she was ready to do this but she wasn't so sure anymore. Re-connecting with her mother should be a happy thing. Quinn knew that. But she couldn't just put aside all of the hurt and anger of the past few years. She thought she could, but apparently she'd been wrong.

The small confines of the kitchen made her feel caged in, edgy, so she circled the island and began to pace the perimeter of the living room instead. She lost count of how many passes she'd made when she felt the warmth of a hand on her arm and the gentle tug of being pulled out of motion.

"Quinn, honey. Are you okay?" Her voice was soft but it was enough to break through Quinn's racing thought's.

She jerked, startled to find Rachel standing so close, one hand on her arm the other rubbing soothing circles along her back. She blinked owlishly at Rachel a few times before nodding.

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm okay." She rubbed her eyes and then ran a hand through her hair.

"Look, Quinn, I know it's tough to put aside all of the hurt and anger of the past few years. But, you're mom is trying and I think she genuinely-"

"What do you know about it?" Quinn pulled out of Rachel's grasp and rounded on the other woman. "Really, what do you know about being rejected and shunned by your-"

"By my own mother? Quite a lot, actually. By my peers? By the people around me, all because of who I am, as a person? Again, quite a lot." Rachel didn't raise her voice and she kept her tone even, but Quinn could tell that she was reigning in her temper. "I spent my middle and high school years being bullied and ostracised. For no good reason. Because people didn't like my clothes, my hair, my nose. So, yeah, you could say that I know a little bit about what it feels like to be cast aside, thought of as less than because I didn't live up to the expectations of what people think I should be."

The words cut through the haze of emotions that were clouding Quinn's head and immediately she felt a wave of guilt.

"Rach..." She didn't know what else to say. She had played a large part of Rachel's painful adolescence.

Rachel stepped forward, closing the distance between them, reaching out to Quinn once again. This time she let her.

"I'm not saying this to throw it in your face," Rachel said, taking both of Quinn's hands in hers. "The past is done. Over with. I guess we can never really forget it, but we can move on from it. We can let go of that hurt and that anger and we can move forward."

Quinn nodded, seeing the sense in what Rachel had said. "I'm sorry. I thought I was ready to deal with my mom but I guess hearing the two of you talk, it just brought all of these old emotions rushing back. Stuff I thought I was over."

"Or, maybe stuff that you had never really dealt with but just pushed aside," Rachel suggested gently.

That was possible too. It was the Fabray way, after all, sweeping the uncomfortable stuff under the rug.

"That's perfectly understandable. You have the right to be upset or angry with your mother over how she treated you. But, it's not healthy to dwell on it. Especially if you're trying to rebuild your relationship with her."

Quinn nodded. "I know. You're right."

"And you have to be patient. You're not going to be able to resolve years worth of issues in one or two phone conversations. It's a process. And it's going to take time."

"Yeah." Again Quinn nodded.

"And, I'll be here for you, every step of the way."

Quinn allowed a small smile to grace her lips. "I know. And, thank you. I know I'm not always the easiest person to deal with and I'm sorry."

"I know," Rachel said, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips as well. "And, it's okay. We both have our moments, right?"

Quinn dipped her head in acknowledgement.

"Hey, you know, I'm proud of us," Rachel said into the silence that had settled between them.

Quinn raised her gaze to meet Rachel's. "Why's that?"

"Well, we had a tense moment there that could have turned into an argument but we both managed to hold our tempers and we talked it out instead of letting it escalate."

She took a moment to consider Rachel's words and then nodded, a smile playing at the corners of her lips. "Hey, that's right. We did pretty good today, huh?"

"Yeah, we did." Rachel rose up onto her toes to press a light kiss to her lips. "For what it's worth, I think your mom is really trying. I think her turn around is sincere."

"That's worth a lot. It's worth everything, in fact." Quinn dipped her head and brushed Rachel's lips in a kiss. "Thank you, for this morning. You really made an impression on her."

"It was my pleasure."

"I'm sorry that I spoiled what should have been a-"

"Hey, no. You did your best. That's all I could have asked for. Next time, you'll do better."

Quinn felt a warmth of affection roll over her at Rachel's unwavering support of her. She didn't know how she'd survived this long without her. "You're amazing, you know that?"

"I do, yes."

"And so modest, too," she said with a laugh.

"Of course," Rachel said, grinning broadly up at her. "So, are you okay on your own for a bit while I go get cleaned up so we can go on our date?"

Quinn nodded. "Yeah, I'm all good. Although, if you need a hand cleaning up..."

"If by need a hand you mean, you'll do the dishes while I shower than I say yeah, that would be perfect."

That wasn't what Quinn had meant and Rachel knew it, but she simply nodded her acquiescence with a smile and gave Rachel a light kiss on the forhead before turning and heading into the kitchen.