Hold me closer

Coming home

As much as Quinn didn't feel ready to talk about her past, deep down she knew that she was. "Eve is... a part of my past who is better off staying a part of my past." "But I want to know everything about you. The bad stuff, the scary stuff, I want to be by your side to get through it." Nia's words made Quinn tear up. She felt like no one had really cared for her on that level since her parents passed. "Thank you... for saying that." On Nia's face was the most loving smile. "Of course. You know, maybe we should take a break at the next stop."

It was dark but warm outside, and the wind was like a fresh breeze. Quinn and Nia found a spot behind an old diner where they could sit undisturbed. It was right by a small lake with tall trees surrounding it, reflecting onto the water majestically. Quinn sat on a park bench throwing small rocks in the water, watching how they created little waves. Nia was sat right next to her, hair blowing slowly in the wind.

Quinn thought of her words before she spoke. "Eve was... I thought she was the love of my life. I'm coming to realize that's not the truth." Quinn smiled at Nia who was sitting quiet, letting her talk. "She was... a great liar. Starting to think she might have been a sociopath." She chuckled through her painful memories of Eve telling her about all the people she could be with instead of Quinn. More successful, more pretty... As if most of Quinn's inability to "succeed" didn't come from Eve.

"I loved her. And I used to be angry at her for ruining my life by dying, the day after she rejected my proposal." Quinn sighed. Speaking her mind for once was really enlightening, it made her realize what she really thought. "Today, I honestly no longer wish she was still here. She would've just kept ruining my life and I wouldn't even have realized." Quinn threw a big rock in the lake and watched it form circles on the water.

Nia took her hand and looked her in the eyes. "You deserve better. So much better." Quinn smiled at Nia with tears in her eyes. "Thank you." Nia shook her head in protest. "You don't need to keep saying thank you. I love you, and I'm not asking for anything in return." Quinn could barely believe her ears. After a whole adulthood of struggling with life in all kinds of ways, she had found someone worth staying for.

It was worth it to wake up every day, do your best and be the best version of yourself. Being loved by someone as mindblowingly amazing as Nia, Quinn couldn't comprehend it. The only reason that could be true was if... if she was worth something. With tears on her face and a vurnorable voice, Quinn spoke the truest words she'd ever spoken, "I love you too." Nia grabbed her face and pulled her into a passionate and powerful kiss, and Quinn felt so at peace. With the world and herself, for the first time in forever.

Owls were howling in the woods and the moon was out, shining down on them with its mystical light, but Quinn and Nia had to keep going. Despite feeling so incredibly safe together, danger was still at their every corner.

"Can we stop for ice cream or something?" Quinn laughed. "Nia, it's been five minutes in the car!" Nia rolled her eyes. "Fine. In an hour then?" Quinn hesitated. "We have a long way to go. Two hours." Nia put her head in her hands and made a frustrated noise. "Put on some music!" Quinn was actually feeling like it that time. Nia found a radio station playing 80's rock.

Quinn let go of the wheel for a second to clap her hands, making Nia nervous. "Perfect!" Quinn exclaimed as 'eye of the tiger' came on. Nia turned up the volume a lot and started singing along. "Risin' up, back on the street!" Quinn joined in, which made Nia laugh. "Did my time, took my chances!" They kept singing and singing until their ears got tired of the loud music.

By the time they reached the airport, it was the next day. Quinn was a bit sad that they didn't have the opportunity to stay and explore the French village of her dreams. She swore to Nia that they would be back someday. Hal had sent someone to hide their tickets in a public bathroom at the airport. Not having time to sleep, Quinn and Nia walked through the border control with their eyes barely open.

They were just in time for their flight, like planned, to make sure no one had the time to trace their passports and get on the same plane. Quinn sat herself down next to Nia in economy. Nia didn't seem to have enough energy or will to complain about not being in first class. The flight was long, and Quinn decided to try to relax like Nia was already in the process of doing. She rested her head on her lover's shoulder, closing her eyes slowly. Just a tiny nap, it will be fine.

Quinn woke up to the sound of the pilot telling the passengers to fasten their seatbelts. "What's wrong?" Stressed and confused, Quinn turned to Nia in her newly woken state. "We're landing." Nia laughed and Quinn sat back. "I've been asleep for seven fucking hours?" Nia laughed again. "Yep. And it was all your doing, babe." She teased Quinn. "Maybe if you give me a kiss it will feel better?" Quinn tried. "You've been asleep for seven hours, you don't think I know how good you feel?" Quinn laughed. "That makes me feel better."

Quinn and Nia were walking through the airport, carrying their few belongings in paper bags. Wearing cheap clothing from a grocery store in Paris and with small but unhealed scratches and bruises everywhere, Quinn could only guess how odd they must've looked. They made it to the pick up area and Quinn started looking for their ride. That was when she spotted Hal himself standing in the crowd. "Hal!"