Will The Real Rachel Berry Please Stand Up?

14

Quinn absent mindedly wandered into the kitchen with "you, a guitar, singing for me what's not to love" playing on repeat through her mind. Did that mean...Her thoughts were silenced by her surprise at finding her Mother sat at the kitchen table, an ominously bland expression on her face and, even more worryingly, a non-alcoholic beverage in her hand.

"Quinn I think we need to talk. Please be so good as to join me" Judy said quietly. Quinn slid her bag from her shoulder to the floor and slid into a seat opposite her mother looking down at the table to avoid catching her eye. The dripping of the tap into the sink punctuated the passing of time as Judy struggled to find a starting point.

"So how was your day?" she finally managed only for Quinn to meet her gaze with an arched eyebrow.

"Seriously?" Quinn asked incredulously noting an embarrassed flush make its way up her mother's cheeks.

"I. It's ." Judy sighed heavily, "Sue Sylvester rang me earlier.." she finally managed to say. Quinn looked at her with a neutral expression before responding "So?"

Judy felt a familiar mix of annoyance and guilt. Would Quinn ever forgive her for her weakness around Russell - did those years of her undivided attention when Quinn was small account for nothing? She drew a breath.

" She mentioned something about inappropriate relationships..." Judy started but stopped abruptly as Quinn stood up suddenly, her chair falling to the floor. Damn Sue Sylvester and her vindictive meddlesome ways - what right did she have to tell her mother about the rumours concerning her and Rachel?

" Yes I'm gay and yes heading straight for eternal damnation but no I'm not involved with Rachel. Fat chance. Unwed teenage Mum wasn't enough shame to bring on the family" Quinn spat the words out disappointed, but not surprised, at the shock and horror she saw on her mother's face," Don't worry I can pack in 10 minutes" and with that she stormed out of the kitchen leaving a stunned and speechless Judy in her wake. Judy could hardly order her thoughts, her vaguely planned talk, about why giving up on the Cheerios now might not be a good idea, all but forgotten. Her daughter was upstairs packing - action was needed. Judy glanced longingly at the gin bottle on the side. She didn't really have time to pour the fortifier she so badly wanted. She hurried up to Quinn's room.

Quinn could hardly see to pack through the tears streaming down her face and it was only by screaming inappropriate swear words at Sue Sylvester in her head that she kept herself from collapsing in a pathetic heap on the floor. She crammed clothes into her rucksack and shoved her phone charger into one of the pockets, too busy to notice the door opening behind her. Judy took in the distressed state of her daughter and as she strode towards was having difficulty deciding what to say so she reached out to still Quinn's hands and pulled her sobbing daughter towards her enfolding her in a hug. Quinn finally relaxed into her. Judy rubbed her back gently in a way reminiscent of what used to soothe Quinn when she was an upset toddler.

"Shh Quinn. It's alright. Please don't leave. I love you" Judy surprised herself with her last statement. When did the Fabrays ever make such declarations?

"I love you too" that was mumbled into her shoulder made her spirits soar. Maybe her daughter hadn't quite written her off as the world's worst mother. Maybe there was hope to salvaging some form of a mother-daughter relationship. She continued to try and soothe her daughter and once the sobbing stopped she suggested they headed downstairs for a coffee. She kept her arm around her daughters shoulders almost afraid to lose contact with her. It seemed a much needed and long dreaded conversation about feelings was headed their way.

"Is this what will be known in your autobiography as your 'Pink period'?" Ali asked as she settled herself down on the bed next to Rachel as 'Please don't leave me' track began to play again. Rachel made a non-committal grunt in response.