The noises grew louder as the sounds of footsteps came closer. Before Quinn could comprehend that her safety was at risk and even before fear could dawn on her…

##RLovesQ##

"Mommy," the squeal of voice that Quinn could only describe as angelic echoed the living room. Beth.

Seeing that there was no real harm in sight, other than boisterous chatter of a 10 years old, Johnny, Quinn's driver bodyguard shuffled sideways to allow a mother daughter bonding between the two.

Despite the fatigue Quinn went through after enduring the hour-long retina-shutting flashbulbs and tension-filled questions in the press conference, not to mention the seemingly endless US House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence meeting, she managed to carry her daughter up in a tight hug, she hadn't experience since Christmas.

Beth squirmed and whined, "Mom! I'm 10. You can only carry me 'til age 8, you know," followed by a well-placed eye roll similar to Quinn's best friend. Speaking of which….

"Baby, who's with you?"

"Auntie B and Auntie S."

Right on cue, the two aunts appeared on the doorframe leading to the kitchen from the living room's left side. Brittany gracefully walked towards Quinn to give the latter an equally tight hug and henceforth, ruffling the little brunette's hair. As Brittany fully let go from the hug, Quinn was able to quirk an eyebrow in confusion so the taller blonde explained, "San and I know you're not expecting her 'til 2 days from now but well, we called Shelby to check and apparently Spring break in New York started yesterday so, we got Little B in earlier. Surprise!"

Brittany spoke softly as Beth happily beamed at Quinn so the young politician can do nothing but smile in reply. Quinn tilted her head towards the Latina still on the doorsill who gave a gracious half-nod while worry is etched all over her face. Right. Quinn almost forgotten the afternoon ordeal thanks to her friends' surprise but seeing Santana's less than happy greeting, it all came back at once. Santana caught her in mid-groan and thus interrupted lightly,

"Chicken Primavera Pasta, chico and chicas. I did not work my ass off to let go to waste. Come on!"

"Language, S. But thanks,"Quinn said and held Santana's gaze sharing a tiny best friend conversation that went like this:

Quinn simultaneously lifting both eyebrows up = I'm ok.

Santana's bitchy glare = You better be or…

"Ooohhh… a staring contest! Can we join?"

In split second, Brittany timely broke the tension bringing in melodious laughter from the conversing pair. Confused, she further asked, "S, I won, right? You and Q totally blinked."

Laughing once more, Santana replied, "Yes, B. Prizes later." The Latina then pecked the Dutch's pouting lips with a loud mwah, illiciting a shriek from Quinn of, "Hey, enough of that. Kid's here. Come on."

Dinner was spent in a light mood as Beth kept them wildly entertained with her teacher and classmate bashing, commentary on various shows which were mostly Broadway related. Luckily, much to the three women's delight, she apparently had taken a liking to Bring it On (the Nth Pump). She even showed off her two leg extension stand, using her Uncle Johnny as base. After all, Johnny was not just a bodyguard to Quinn but also a distant cousin of the Fabrays, apparently becoming bodyguard to a highly publicized politician was some sort of internship in FBI.

Brittany also kept the conversation flowing with all her random trivia such as, "Did you know that Lady Gaga is Michael Jackson in disguise. She told me that in one of our tours before or was she a he? Anyway, it is super secret, guys. Don't tell anyone, especially you, Little B." Her voice was stern but Beth only giggled in response.

Whereas Quinn and Johnny encouraged the two B's to tell more anecdote. Santana kept her comments scarce but smiling and nodding along well enough for the tiny brunette not to sense something was up. When Beth went looking sleepy, the trio tucked her in. Quinn left as soon as Beth's breathing went even, trying to catch the late night news.

Few minutes later in Quinn's room…

Santana: Hey, Q.

Quinn: S, Something's up?

Santana: Um-no. Beth's sleeping soundly. Britt's still there though.

Quinn: Oh. Is there some problem between you and Brittany?

Santana: Huh? What? What makes you say that? Sheesh, Q, she's just watching Little B sleep. You know how much she adores kids.

Quinn: (smirks) So when are you getting your own then?

Santana: Seriously, Q? Don't distract me. Besides, I have 2 kids to handle already and we both know we're not talking about Britt.

Quinn's only reply was a groan, she knew where this was heading to.

Santana:So, we both know where this is heading to. Q, what's that in News Flash all about? It was unprecedented, really. (Santana exasperated) I thought you were just cooped up with resolutions and whatnots in that white walls and mahogany furniture office of yours. So, B and I planned to get Beth here earlier than usual, ease up things for you with this surprise but woah, you beat us to it with your nationwide expose.

Quinn: (she lowered her head and thereby effectively shielding her eyes to bare any emotions)Thank you. I really appreciate what you and B have done and I'm sorry.

Santana: Alright, then. Come clean, Fabray. Hmm… Let's see. How did the media phrased this? Right. What's your angle here? (Santana timely crossed her arms as she finished speaking.)

Quinn: (getting mildly irritated, she raised her voice a bit.) Santana, you know, it is part of my job to….

Santana: (Holding up her hand)Ok. Signing that bill for tax increase two months ago is part of your job, Quinn but meddling in organized crime is not. Heck, you're a member of the Ways and Means Committee. Since when did you do HPSCI?

Quinn: Santana, Corporal Robertson personally asked for my protection in this. It's not like I can defer him.

Santana: Yeah, I know that but you could've at least referred him to someone else. You're biting more than you can chew, taking you back at the center of the public's -. (Something inside Santana clicked as she stared down her best friend.) Fuck's sake, Quinn, this is about you getting back in the people's good graces, huh? An assent to a definitive backslash that is tax increase could only be erased by you, being freaking Shaggy and that drug lord sniffing corporal as your Scooby Doo, huh?

(Quinn remained silent sitting in her bed so Santana continued)

Right, Honorable Fabray, you'd never stop to get to the top or get killed, huh? I know you have those altruistic reasons too. Being a WASP made sure of that. (Santana scoffed at this.) But aren't there safer ways to secure votes?

Quinn: Yes, Santana. You're right. But the opportunity was there, ok? I cannot turn it down. Please let this go. I need to sleep. I'm already tired and I have another committee investigation tomorrow.

Santana: (she huffed but she knew there was no point arguing; she was Q's best friend. Her role was to support.) Ok, fine. Fix everything soon. Publicity or no publicity, you have a daughter to spend quality time with. I'd help Brittany babysit for two days tops. I cannot leave Washington Med for long. Go to sleep.

Quinn: Thanks, S. you're the best. Good night.

Santana: Sweet dreams, Q.

With the end of that conversation, Quinn slept mildly contented with her exponential increase in popularity and happy with her family life. She, like many other politicians of all time, forgot that fast lane always skid to danger zone.

*HPSCI House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

Author's Note:

Sheesh, is having glitches. Anyways, please be a dear and send reviews when you can. I really want inputs here.

Prajna, thank you for the suggestion of lengthening the chapters.

Pardon the geographical or political mistakes. I'm no American or Legal Consultant.

Ok, I know this is slow turning with no Rachel Berry, much less Faberry in sight yet but I really wants to explain their grown-up characters individually. I'll put up Berry's chapter next. Can you guess what would her profession be? You may put up suggestions as well.

Oh and I'm trying to be futuristic with this fic so high tech gadgets that are a product of my imagination will be shown. I'd also appreciate your suggested techno stuff.