Simple Parts (from fanfiction.net)

Chapter Nine- Excavating

Simple Parts

Chapter Nine- Excavating

They don't dig the holes quite deep enough
for everything you got to take to your grave
...

Your complexion, it speaks volumes of
The ghosts you've born
and the walls that you've built up
it keeps them in
There's one for every sin.

QFRB

Quinn thought her mother looked a bit like a dinosaur. She was clearly an older woman, even if she hadn't known the woman was somewhere in her eighties, she would have been able to tell. The older woman had gone through more work, face lifts, Botox, the whole shebang. There was no other way her skin could be that tight. Her hair was still blonde and her eyes looked like they were being pulled back.

The older woman (She felt weird thinking her mother could be considered elderly, especially since she seemed to be very spry)marched boldly in to the kitchen and planted her feet in a wide stance in front to the bar, opening her arms wide to signify that she expected a hug. "What's left to do?" she demanded.

Older Quinn sighed and wiped off her hands with a kitchen towel before throwing it onto the counter and rounding the bar to meet her mother. "Mom," she greeted with a wry smile, "you look fantastic."

"Stop lying," she admonished in a half-flattered tone. "You need to get to the salon, young lady."

"Mom," the artist complained even as she wrapped her arms around her mother, "I'm nearly fifty."

Judy Fabray tutted. "That's not possible dear, I'm only forty." The old woman winked playfully at Carmen and Alice over her daughter's shoulder. "And don't think I didn't notice you avoided talking about your hair. Really, dear, what are you waiting for?"

"Time," Older Quinn replied testily, pulling away and going back to her station. "If you must know, I have an appointment next week."

Judy sighed unhappily at that news. "Well, if that's the best you can do..." Rachel noticed the way Older Quinn's shoulder's bunched at the tone, but luckily Judy dropped the subject and moved to greet her granddaughters instead.

The elderly woman spent several minutes getting reacquainted with Alice, pinching cheeks and telling her how much she had grown.

Alice broke away eventually and rubbed at her sore cheeks. "Nanna, I saw you two weeks ago."

"Amazing how fast you children change nowadays, isn't it?" Alice glanced over her grandmother's shoulder with a pleading expression.

"Mom, we have some guests staying with us this year," Quinn interrupted for her daughter, drawing the older woman's attention to the time travelers. "This is Rachel's third cousin, Barbie. And this is her friend Charlie. They're staying with us for the holiday."

"Oh how lovely!" She gave her daughter a conspiratorial wink. "They look a little like you and Rachel did when you were young. Very cute. Are they together?" She asked this in a normal speaking volume, completely unconcerned with the fact that the two subjects could hear her.

Young Quinn felt like her face might literally overfill with blood. She felt a little dizzy at the rush to her brain and she swayed on her feet. Young Rachel was better off in that her face was darker and less likely to show a blush and also because her propensity to do so was already lower than Quinn's. They both stammered their denials under Judy's knowing and Older Quinn's exasperated gazes.

"Don't harass them Mom," Quinn reprimanded. "Why don't you go back to Rachel's office and drag her out. She'll love to see you." She ushered the woman out with only a few protests about helping with the last of the cooking. When she finally got the woman to leave in search of Older Rachel she turned back to the occupants of the kitchen with an exasperated eye roll. "This is going to be the longest day in history."