Summary: Quinn acts up while out and Shelby doesn't play like that.
Just For Kicks
Shelby Corcoran was out to lunch with her daughters for their first Mother's Day together. It was supposed to have been this picture-perfect moment between herself, her two teens, and her one-year-old. It was anything but.
"Ow, Quinn! Stop!" Rachel demanded, staring daggers at the blonde teen across the booth from her.
"I'm not doing anything!" Quinn argued.
"You kicked me!" the brunette hissed. She turned to Shelby for support. "Mom," she whined.
"What?! I barely touched you!" Quinn spat. She too turned her attention to Shelby. "Mama—"
"MA! Ba, wahda! My!" Beth growled, her little face scrunched up. She banged her hand on the table angrily before reaching once more for her mama's drink.
"Girls, c'mon—" Shelby sighed, moving her soda for what felt like the millionth time, earning an angry yell from her youngest. "I just want us to have a nice lunch together and—Beth, it's not yours."
"If I had kicked you, I'd have done—"
"Mom, make her stop!" Rachel implored, scooching closer to her mother's side, seeking protection.
"Quinn—" Shelby began in warning, but it was already too late.
"—This." Quinn's foot connected with Rachel's shin with a solid thump. Rachel let out a shrill yell that drew the attention of the neighboring tables.
It all happened so fast. The kick, Rachel's scream. Shelby handed Beth off to a startled Rachel and was out of the booth before the exchange was complete. Hazel eyes grew wide and pink lips formed a perfect O as Shelby's hand darted out to secure a firm grip on a delicate earlobe.
"Ouch—Ah! Mama!" Quinn scrambled to her feet, wincing and hissing as Shelby pinched and tugged on her ear. She didn't miss the smug little smirk that crossed Rachel's face at her misfortune, but it was the curious, disapproving, and otherwise nosy looks from those around them that made Quinn's face flush crimson.
"Quinn and I need to visit the restroom. Watch your sister for me and we'll be right back," Shelby informed Rachel.
Quinn's stomach flipped and she yelped as her mother all but yanked her ear as she began marching them off towards their destination. Faces passed in a blur as Quinn's feet tapped a frantic dance to keep up with Shelby's longer strides. It was almost a relief to reach the bathroom despite whatever awaited her inside those tiled walls.
The three stalls stood empty, and Shelby wasted no time dragging Quinn into the largest one at the end. Locking the stall door, she finally released her daughter's ear.
Quinn's hand flew to her throbbing ear, massaging the reddened lobe while throwing an angry pout towards her mother. Shelby raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow as she stepped forward. Quinn gasped and tried to take a step back, but there was only so much space available to her. She gasped again as deft fingers made quick work of the button and zipper of her jeans.
"Mama!" she squealed as her jeans were unceremoniously tugged down below her bottom.
"I'm not sure what has gotten into you—" Shelby easily tucked Quinn under her right arm, pinning the girl to her hip as her left hand whizzed through the air to clap down across heart-patterned underwear. More slaps fell, peppering her daughter's bottom with rapid heat. "—but it stops now. You had no right to hurt Rachel as you did—"
Quinn shifted from foot to foot as she squirmed under her mother's sharp attention. Tears were quickly forming as Shelby set fire to her skin. Shame and embarrassment swirled in her belly in equal measure. She never liked when her mama was upset with her (and Shelby was most definitely upset with her), and she was distinctly aware of the semi-public nature of her current position. Anyone could walk in and overhear what was happening to Quinn in stall #3. That alone was enough to coax her tears out from teetering on the edge of her lids and send them trickling down the side of her nose until they dripped off the end and onto the floor.
Panicking that her worry would soon become her reality, Quinn said the first thing that came to mind. "Ah, Mama! It was an acci—Ouch! Accident! Ow! OW! Oh—Ouch!"
That was the wrong thing to say, Quinn realized a moment too late. She felt Shelby pull her closer against her side, the woman's right arm wrapping tighter around her middle and holding her in place. Her eyes then bulged as cool air hit heated skin. Quinn let out an undignified squeak and twisted her hips harder.
"Noooo! Mama, please! Not that!"
Shelby let out an angry huff as she bared her daughter fully, ignoring the girl's embarrassed wail. "Don't you dare lie to me," she scolded, her tone as biting as her palm now cracking down on pink skin. "I heard and saw everything—"
"Rachel was arguing too!" Quinn cut in shrilly. "Oww, Mama! Stop—please!" she added, her hand snaking back to clutch at stinging heat.
"Move that hand, young lady," Shelby ordered the moment she saw that naughty limb appear to block the hard-earned correction.
"Nooo! No more!" Quinn cried.
The mother only shook her head and aimed lower, setting fresh skin ablaze. A twin crack ignited Quinn's other thigh before the girl withdrew her hand. Shelby returned now to the fleshiest part of her child's bottom, picking up where she'd left off in her scolding.
"You both were arguing, yes, but only one of you became physical. And that was no accident, Lucy Quinn—You deliberately hurt Rachel. You should be ashamed of yourself."
"Ow, ow! Yes, ma'am, I—Oohoo—I am! I'm sorry! Ouch! Oh, ouch! Mama—I'm sorry!"
Shelby's hand connected one final time with the very center of Quinn's bottom, and then she stopped. The whole ordeal had lasted less than thirty seconds, though to Quinn, it had felt a lifetime. The girl's breath hitched and she hissed as her clothing was returned to properly cover her. Finally, she was helped back to a fully-upright position.
Quinn's face felt hot and sticky and she didn't dare meet her mother's eyes, too afraid that there would be anger waiting for her when she did.
Shelby let out a tired sigh as she folded her arms across her chest and regarded the tearful child before her. Frustration and disappointment still raged inside her heart and the mother shook her head. She had to let those feelings go, but it was easier said than done at that moment.
The silence was deafening after the tumultuous energy before. Quinn chewed at her bottom lip and shifted her weight from foot to foot, unsure how to proceed. Her bottom pulsed with an unrelenting sting and she moved both hands behind her in an attempt to ease the pain.
"No rubbing. I want you to feel that when we go back out to the table in a moment," Shelby's voice startled Quinn, who jumped at the sound. Watery eyes flicked up to meet a stern pair, and the hurt look that followed was enough to wash away the residual upset. Expression softening, Shelby opened her arms. "Come here, baby," she said.
Quinn let out a shaky breath and then fell into her mother's arms. She squeezed her eyes shut as Shelby engulfed her, resting the ear her mama had used as a handle only minutes ago against the woman's chest now, drawing comfort from the steady thump of Shelby's heartbeat.
Shelby rubbed her hand up and down a hitching back while her teenager's breathing returned to normal. It didn't take long and then the mother was pulling back to stare into red-rimmed eyes. Quinn's face flushed at Shelby's pointed look. It was perhaps poetic justice that it was the exact shade Shelby had left the girl's bottom.
"Are you going to behave yourself now if we rejoin Rachel and Beth?" the mother asked, and Quinn's face turned two shades darker. The girl nodded as she hung her head.
Shelby reached her hand out to tilt her daughter's chin up. "No more fighting when we return," she said in a tone that brooked no arguments. "I'll tell Rachel the same," she added when Quinn's eyes darkened. She waited for her child to calm once more before adding a final warning. "And you will keep your feet—all body parts, actually—to yourself. Otherwise, it won't be an accident when I put you over my knee at home. Is that clear?"
Quinn's stomach dropped and she gasped as the sting in her bottom gave a particularly painful twinge. She fisted her hands at her sides as she fought her desperate desire to rub. "Yes, ma'am," she said in little more than a whisper.
"Good," Shelby answered as she let her hand drop. Both of them went to Quinn's waist then, buttoning and zipping the girl's pants as quickly as she had undone them earlier. Quinn groaned, embarrassed. Shelby ignored it and simply placed a kiss to her child's forehead.
"C'mon, then," Shelby said, and offered Quinn her hand.
Quinn sniffled and eyed the upturned palm, noting the faint pink hue. She scrunched her nose at the sight, but didn't hesitate in taking hold. Shelby smiled at her and gave a quick squeeze.
While Shelby turned the lock on the stall door, Quinn used that opportunity to give the briefest of rubs to her smarting backside. She groaned at the thought of having to sit on the hard booth seat for the remainder of their meal.
Shelby didn't miss the doleful sound, drawing out a tired sigh of her own. This certainly wasn't her idea of a happy Mother's Day either.
They stopped at the sinks, each washing and drying their hands. Shelby reached for a fresh paper towel and ran it under cool water, squeezing out the excess. She made quick work of cleaning Quinn's face, removing any stray traces of tears from her cheeks. Once finished, she took up her daughter's hand and led them from the restroom.
Quinn could still feel the stares as she passed the same tables with their onlookers that had gawked so openly before. The glances she caught now were more discreet but no less embarrassing. She was once again relieved to make it to their final destination…even if this time meant having to sit across from Rachel and her perceptive eye.
Those eyes watched with unconcealed satisfaction as a subdued Quinn eased back into the booth. Quinn tried to hide her discomfort, but she was certain Rachel saw her wince as her bottom met the hard seat. Her cheeks grew warm and she stared down at the tabletop. She hoped their food would arrive soon—the sooner it did, the sooner this whole thing could end.
Shelby eyed her teenagers, not missing the silent exchange between them. She sighed as she slid in beside Rachel again. Beth immediately reached for her, her face turning red as she yelled.
"She was perfectly happy while you were gone," Rachel mentioned as she passed the angry baby off to her mother. She tickled the girl's belly once she was settled in the crook of Shelby's arm. "I was telling her all about Barbra's biggest accomplishments. She was enthralled—that's good news for her future interests, don't you think?"
"I'd say so, Rach, yeah," Shelby smiled at her first-born. Beth growled and leaned forward, intent on grabbing for her mother's straw. "You behave too, young lady," Shelby scolded her youngest, repositioning the baby so she was further away from her goal.
"I swear it's you, Mom. She wasn't interested in your drink at all when it was just us either," Rachel said.
Shelby rolled her eyes and nodded. "That's because all kids act up more for their mothers than anyone else," she answered, nuzzling noses with Beth. The baby squealed, her upset completely forgotten. Shelby's eyes traveled over one blonde child to stare at the lowered head of the other, wishing things were as easy to fix for that one, too.
"Some more than others," Rachel boasted in a lofty tone. She flicked her eyes over to Quinn in time to see the anger flash across the other's girl's face. Rachel felt a rush of triumph at having gotten under the blonde's skin. The smirk was still in place as she turned her attention back to her mom, expecting the woman to laugh at her joke.
Shelby was anything but pleased as Rachel met her eyes. She regarded the girl sternly (something she hadn't done much of in the four-ish months they'd reconnected). "That is enough from you as well, Rachel. I've already corrected Quinn for kicking you, but there was plenty of fighting from both of you before it got physical. I won't tolerate that from either of you, so it stops now. Is that clear?"
It was Rachel's turn to flush and squirm under her mother's piercing gaze, eyes wide with shock. Shelby had never spoken to her so firmly before. She was her mother's princess and Rachel had grown accustomed to being treated that way. She didn't know how she felt about this new development.
But Shelby was still staring at her with that stern expression on her face, the one Rachel usually saw directed at Quinn. Rachel gulped and chewed at her lip, giving her mother a jerky nod.
Shelby nodded in return and then took a deep breath in. She released it a moment later, feeling calmer. "Okay, then. That's settled. Now we're all going to have a nice lunch together. Right, girls?" She looked from one daughter to the other.
Quinn watched the exchange with just as much surprise at their mother's reaction to Rachel's comment as the brunette. Rachel was never scolded for anything. No, only Quinn had the distinct honor of being on the receiving end of Shelby Corcoran's ire. She should be celebrating this moment, but the lingering sting on her backside kept her from properly enjoying the occasion. Then those hazel eyes focused back in on her, and Quinn hissed as she shifted under their scrutiny.
"Yes, ma'am," she offered meekly.
"Right, Mom," Rachel agreed.
"Good," Shelby said.
The girls' ceasefire extended only as far as Shelby's presence, so when the mother told them they could wait outside while she went to change Beth's diaper before leaving, the teenagers wasted no time in picking up where they'd left off.
"Stay out front! I won't be long," Shelby had told them as they parted ways at the entrance. Quinn had replied with a quiet "Yes, ma'am" while Rachel sniggered beside her.
"Man, Mom must've really made an impression on you when she took you into the bathroom earlier, huh?" Rachel teased as she followed Quinn out of the restaurant.
"Shut up, Rachel," Quinn growled, stomping away from the smaller teen.
"It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what happened. You couldn't sit still when you came back."
Anger coursed through Quinn's veins and she rounded on Rachel, making the other girl gasp in fright. "Shut UP, Man-Hands or I swear to GOD I will—"
Rachel bobbed around Quinn, her face lighting up as she raised her hand to wave. "Oh—Mom! Over here!"
Quinn's heart stopped and she spun around, expecting to see a very angry Shelby Corcoran descending on her any second. The woman was nowhere to be seen.
"You little BITCH!" Quinn howled, turning to face Rachel once more. Adrenaline now pumping through her body at the underhanded trick, Quinn raised her hand to slap the other girl. Rachel pushed her away, hard, and Quinn stumbled backwards. Enraged, she lunged for the smaller teen.
Rachel screamed and took a hasty step back, tripping over the edge of the flowerbed. She landed hard on her ass in the mulch. "Ow! Quinn!"
"Rachel!" came the shrill call from the familiar voice just behind them.
Quinn smirked, happy she wasn't the one in trouble this time. She watched as Shelby rushed over to Rachel, helping the smaller brunette to her feet. With Beth propped against the woman's hip, Shelby turned Rachel around. That left hand that Quinn was far too familiar with moved to Rachel's bottom. Quinn broke out into a huge grin, nearly shaking in her excitement. Shelby was actually going to swat Rachel!
She really should have known it was too good to be true. She watched as her mother gently brushed the dirt off of Rachel's dress, then fussed over her while she checked for any scrapes. She kissed the girl's head when none were found and helped Rachel back onto the pavement.
Quinn watched as Shelby passed Beth off to Rachel and her heart rate quickened. She knew what was coming and it wasn't fair! Eyes bulging, she held her hands up in surrender. Still, Shelby stalked towards her.
"I didn't do anything!" she yelled as the woman grabbed her by the arm. She felt herself being turned and squeezed her eyes shut. Her mama wasn't going to be brushing dirt off her bottom.
"And you're not going to do anything again, is that clear, Lucy Quinn?" Shelby said, her tone low. With a quick look around to make sure no one was around, Shelby raised her hand.
"Ow! Mama!" Quinn yelped, twisting her hips away. She barely felt the sting through her jeans, but her feelings weren't as lucky. Tears welled in her eyes as Shelby let go of her.
Sometimes things were just not fair.