Epilogue

It was with slight trepidation that Rachel walked into the precinct clutching a pamphlet almost protectively in her hand. She wasn't really sure how to proceed with her day. On one hand, she wanted to talk things over with Quinn first and get her input on this new obsession. On the other, she really needed Santana to agree to join her before she decided one way or another. There was a whole different level of this that had her feeling weak and childish for even needing to ask Santana at all but she wasn't going to deal with that now.

A glance at the door to the Sergeant's office pretty much made the decision for her, it was closed and there was no light from underneath. Quinn was off for the day, which meant that she would have to wait until her shift ended to talk to her and wait again to talk to Santana. That wouldn't work, she was too anxious, and besides why wouldn't Quinn be pleased?

Mind made up, she strode up to Santana's desk with purpose and stood by her chair, trying not to look as nervous as she felt.

"Officer Lopez," she said formally.

Santana frowned heavily, knowing Rachel only called her that when they were in some sort of official setting or when she wanted something Rachel knew she would be opposed to. They were in the middle of the precinct, with only a lightly sleeping Puck nearby, so formalities were highly unnecessary, meaning she definitely wanted something.

"What, midget?" the name calling was her way of letting the smaller woman know she knew what was about to come and that she was ready to put up a fight.

"How has your day been?"

"Better once whatever stupid idea you are going to try and talk me into is shot down."

Understanding beating around the bush would get her nowhere, Rachel pulled the pamphlet out from behind her back and handed it out to her like it was a present. There was a moment where Santana looked it over, frowned and turned back to her work determined not to give it the time of day.

"No," she said firmly.

Rachel glanced down at the paper looking confused, "You didn't even read it."

"It's information on how to get into the narcotics division. I am a beat cop, I like being a beat cop. I have no intention of doing anything else. Besides they stopped doing transfers, now you have to take a test and go through a whole bunch of hassle."

"I know, but we could do it together!" she whined, "It'll be great! I am naturally gifted at any sort of test taking or skill demonstration and you have a decent record and seasoned abilities, passing will be easy. With us working together, it will be no hassle at all."

Santana took a deep breath, held it, and let it out slowly. It did nothing to dissolve her irritation so she turned to face the other woman, "Why? Why on earth would I want to change departments? I'm happy where I am. It's a lateral move to only work with drugs."

"Technically, but the real point of this move is to fast track us to being detectives. If we pull that off we can work in any division we want, in whatever precinct we want, and that means back here. If we do well, and I know we will, it's a year at most and a few months if we pull off something crazy."

"Making detective is technically a promotion, but it means more work, harder work, and more cases like that NoriTech disaster. Just take the test by yourself, why the hell would you need me?"

The answer was actually, 'Because you are my only friend here besides Quinn and I am scared of going into a new department without either of you. I'm afraid I won't find anyone else who will like me,' but she couldn't bring herself to say that.

With that thought, Rachel's optimistic smile faded, but before her partner could take notice she stretched it back in place. Of course instead of just saying what she thought she opened her mouth and a partial truth came out, "We work well together and I would hate for my debut performance in a new department to be hindered because of poor rapport with my colleagues. We make an unstoppable team, and the city of New York would be lucky to have us tracking a higher class of criminal."

"I'll stick to low class. Thanks for the half assed ego stroke, but I really am going to have to pass," Santana said and turned back to her computer screen to hopefully get across that the conversation was over.

Rachel just stood in silence for a moment, observing, "It would mean increased pay," she said finally.

"Money isn't a problem for me."

"But if we become detectives, the hours are better and you get more vacation time, I know you would like to spend more time with Brittany." At the sound of her girlfriend's name, Santana's attention to her work suddenly decreased, seeing this Rachel pressed on, "I mean sure we may have the occasional case to keep us late, but on an average day you will be home much earlier and at a more reliable time. That means more time more often to be at home with her or out and about in the city."

Rachel knew she was massaging the facts a little, nonetheless she let that sink in a moment before she brought up the pamphlet and waved it a little, Santana glanced sideways at it for a moment before she held out her hand.

"Give it," she mumbled.

She pulled it away with a light smile, "Does that mean that you'll do it?"

"Maybe," Santana growled snatching the paper.

Rachel squealed and hugged Santana tightly, the Latina made an irritated noise, but didn't move to break the contact.

Puck woke to the sudden racket looking confused, "Whoa! Does Quinn know you got your hand in her cookie jar?" he asked Santana, laughing.

"My hands are at my side!" she snapped.

Rachel smiled pleasantly releasing her, "Santana has just agreed to take the test to transfer to narcotics with me."

"What? No way? You leaving me behind?"

"I said maybe," Santana said, though both she and Rachel knew that if it meant more time with Brittany she was definitely going to do it.

"You can join us too," Rachel said, finally letting her partner go.

He laughed heartily, "Eff that, I have a perfect routine worked out here. I show up, sleep a bunch, do a little work, get paid enough to entertain some ladies, rinse and repeat."

"Suit yourself, but I think you are really missing out."

"Nah, not really interested in the extra stuff," he said yawning.

"Speaking of which aren't you supposed to be filling those out?" Santana said pointing to a tall stack of papers someone had put on the edge of his desk.

"Yeah, Sergeant PMS, no offense," he said quickly to Rachel, "wants me to fill them all out so they can go in with the quarterly report, but she also wants me to stay an extra couple of hours after work almost every day this week. She says it's to balance my paycheck so it can cover my legal fees and not come up negative, I say it's because she likes being a bitch, no offense. I'm getting paid one way or the other so I'll sleep now and fill out the papers later once the overtime pay kicks in."

"As long as you have your priorities down," Santana chuckled.

"You know Noah if you would merely show an interest in your work, Quinn would probably show some mercy when it comes to your workload."

He looked at Rachel with a confused expression, "No she wouldn't, not even a little bit. It's cool though, making people miserable is how she shows she cares."

Santana snorted a laugh, "Whatever you say Puck."

"Well I'm very excited about how today has gone, I can't wait to tell Quinn. We have dinner plans tonight."

"Don't care," Santana said immediately exiting the conversation and returning to her computer.

Rachel sighed knowing it was pointless to try and get her partner to warm up to even talking about Quinn, "Alright back to work then."

Her smile was unhampered as she walked away, she was insanely excited that she had actually gotten Santana to agree to join her. Though Quinn wouldn't be thrilled about it, she would be excited that Rachel was going to finally further her career. There was a skip in her step as she returned to her desk and blazed through her work, thinking of all the possibilities the rest of the day could hold.

It was late when she finally left the precinct but she still had a sliver of time to make it home, change and get to Quinn's house before eight o'clock. She was cutting it close due to the amount of time she had taken to make sure her hair was perfect, but right as the clock struck the hour she pulled in front of her girlfriend's unnecessarily large home.

Immediately she knew something was up.

There were already two cars parked in the double wide driveway, one, the ash grey Ford pickup, she vaguely recognized and the other was a four door Cadillac that she had never seen before.

She parked on the shoulder in front of the house, so as not to block the other cars and approached the door wondering who in the world could be visiting Quinn. It wasn't often that anyone came over, but today it seemed she had at least two visitors. A smile crept over her face as a scenario involving Santana calling Quinn and telling her about the exam followed by a quaint, but cozy, surprise party came to mind but she shook her head knowing that was ludicrous. If for no other reason than to assume Santana would call Quinn for anything.

Brusquely she walked up to the door and knocked firmly, waited and, after a long silence, knocked again. She heard a voice behind the door that she recognized, but it wasn't Quinn's, her brain was just about to try and place the familiar sound when the door opened and her question was answered.

The man was wearing a suit and tie that made him look totally different so it took her a moment to truly process what she was seeing, but she got there in the end. Her face went blank as she stared up at Finn Hudson.

The tall man looked down at her nervously, "Hey Rachel," he said awkwardly.

"Hello," she said slowly, trying to come up with a reason for him to be there, the party theory came up, but it was quickly squashed.

Clearly eager to be out of this uncomfortable situation he turned and called, "Quinn, it's for you!"

He smiled apologetically as they waited and soon she heard the blonde's voice come from down the hall, "Of course it is, this is my house. All you had to do was invite them in…" she stopped talking when she saw the brunette, "Rachel… what are you doing here?"

Now she looked as nervous as Finn, who, seeing how much worse this was all about to get, turned and disappeared down the long hall that led to the dining room.

Quinn stood before her looking angelic in an elegant knee length white dress accented with a gold belt. With her hair down around her shoulders like it was, she looked like a porcelain doll and at any other moment but this one Rachel would have been all over her.

"What do you mean what am I doing here? We had a dinner date tonight remember?" she said slowly, her tone bordering on dangerous.

Quinn squeezed her eyes shut in irritation at herself for forgetting this important detail, "Shit. Today is Wednesday isn't it?"

"What is going on? Why is Finn here?"

The blonde suddenly looked like she wanted to just shove her out the door and deal with it all later, instead she took several steps forward, they were only inches apart so her lowered voice would only reach Rachel's ears.

"Um, sweetheart my family is here tonight. They sort of just came by without any warning and I had to put this dinner together under short notice so I forgot about our plans I am so, so sorry," she said sincerely placing a hand on Rachel's arm.

She backed away from the touch looking at Quinn as though she had never seen her before, "So as you planned this last minute dinner you just call up Finn to be your guest?"

Her tone caused the other woman to wince, "I know how it seems but…"

"It seems," she seethed, "like you don't want your family to know about me."

"Don't do this again Rachel, don't get angry before I have a chance to explain."

"Then explain!" she spat as she desperately tried to control her anger.

Quinn looked lost, not actually believing she would be given the chance, her mind whirled trying to come up with the right words to say, her face fell a little when she realized there were none.

"I… My parents don't approve of me dating women, and back when I married Finn, they became convinced that I pretended to date women to infuriate them. Which it does, instantly. They would have zero tolerance for our relationship."

"So you're ashamed of me," she said in a quiet hurt voice that made Quinn's heart twist.

"No! Never I just want them to eat and move on," she said taking Rachel's defeated looking face in her hands and trying to express sincerity.

"Right, okay I get it. Bye," she choked, turning before Quinn could see her cry.

Feeling furious and wounded in a way she had been so sure she never would be in Quinn's care she turned and marched back to her car. After all they had been through she was sure that she was safe from the hurt she had always feared, now she just felt stupid for believing this relationship would be different from the rest. Fumbling for her keys she finally found them and unlocked the door, however when it was opened she found it slammed shut again by an elegant hand.

Quinn stood next to her blocking the car door looking at her with pity and that look enraged Rachel all over again.

"Get away from my car," she growled.

"I know this whole thing looks bad but you can't just storm off. I love you and I love your theatrics, but now is not the time."

"Theatrics?" she said the word with venom in her voice, "I'm sorry Quinn am I overreacting? I suppose I should be glad you didn't invite me, the food's probably all meat and dairy anyway! Clearly I should count my many blessings in this," she snapped.

Quinn held up a hand, "Wrong wording. You aren't overreacting, but you are taking this the wrong way. I told you I'm not ashamed of you and I'm not."

"Right you just don't want your family to see me!"

"I want them to see you! I want them to know you and love you, but I know they won't! Not when you are my girlfriend!"

Rachel took a steadying breath and kept her eyes on the ground, "Quinn maybe you're right. Maybe it's best if we don't meet but… I can only have so many people be dismissive of me before I start to feel like I'm just not worth the time of day. You aren't the first person to do this to me."

Determined, Quinn wiped the tears off her face, "I'm not ashamed of you, I'm ashamed of them. My dad's an asshole, my mom's a drunk, my sister isn't here yet but she's every bit the bitch everyone at the precinct thinks I am and her husband is worse."

"So what? Everyone's families have issues, my dads will probably hate you because they hate everyone I date, but I would never hide you from them and I certainly wouldn't invite Finn to be your place holder!"

The blonde sighed heavily, "He's a show pony. He gets along with my family… somehow and while they are all in his business they tend to leave me alone. Finn is a buffer between me and them and nothing more." She could see on Rachel's face that the explanation had done nothing to improve her mood so her next words were out of a reckless desperation and even as she spoke them she knew it was totally wrong and she couldn't take it back, "Just come inside and join us for dinner. I would love to have you at my side and maybe after they leave we could do our own thing."

"I wouldn't want to impose," she said coolly.

"Please don't go. I do know how this comes across and I never meant-"

"For me to find out?"

"To hurt you," she finished, "Can you just come inside so we can talk privately later?" she asked, though her insides were still wriggling at the notion.

"Alright," Rachel grumbled.

She led the brunette up the walkway and back to her house, where she showed her to the nearest bathroom. Rachel looked at her questioningly until Quinn began to tenderly wipe her tear stained face with a washcloth. It annoyed Rachel that the action actually made her want to forgive her, but she held onto the anger because it was the only thing keeping her from crying about the whole incident all over again. She understood why Quinn did what she did, but it didn't make it one ounce less hurtful that her family had come to visit and she was forgotten about in the rush to cater to guests and invite Finn. With all they had been through she had hoped when something like this happened, her surety in their love would pull them through. Instead it made her feel like there was nothing between them but empty words. She knew that it was the past talking, that her fears were based on all the past relationships that had gone south, yet she couldn't shake that this was a sign that they weren't meant to be. However, she could tell Quinn was going out of her way to try and make it right.

Once Rachel no longer looked like she had just had an emotional breakdown, they left the bathroom and entered the dining room where she saw Quinn's parents for the first time. Immediately she wished she hadn't agreed. Even though she was dressed nicely enough, in a button down shirt with a knee length skirt, everyone else looked like they were attending a debutante ball. The dinner spread was more extravagant than she would have ever thought, even with Quinn's still absent sister and brother-in-law it was way too much, not to mention that it was almost all, as she had thought, vegan unfriendly.

Rachel's eyes wiped over Mr. and Mrs. Fabray as quickly as possible so as not to seem rude, but still take them in. Her father sat at the head of the overlarge table in a grey power suit and had close cropped hair that made his hard stare seem even more severe. To his left was Quinn's mother, all demure smiles and soft lashes. Her blonde hair was in a loose bun and she wore a floor length blue dress that would have been better suited for a wedding and was bedecked with jewelry that Rachel was willing to bet was every bit as expensive as it looked. She seemed kind enough even if she was a little intoxicated, the wine glass in her hand accenting the latter point.

"Mom, dad, this is Rachel Berry. She works at the precinct with me. Rachel this is my dad Russel and my mother Judy. Rachel will be joining us," Quinn said as she walked in.

The sound of her voice seemed to startle Finn who sat at Mr. Fabray's right, but otherwise no one was disturbed.

Quinn's father regarded her with cool indifference, "Good evening Ms. Berry."

"Evening," she said quietly as she sat next to Quinn who had reclaimed her position next to Finn.

"So are you a Sergeant too?" Judy asked politely.

"No, I'm a street cop," she said quietly, for some reason embarrassed about that for the first time in her life.

"Really? So how did you come to know Quinn so well?" Russel asked as though it was inconceivable that a lowly officer knew his daughter.

"She's one of the best cops we have on the force, how could I not take notice?" Quinn said defensively.

"Well, I plan to change departments soon. I'm going to take the test to get into the narcotics division and from there make the grade to detective," Rachel said feeling bad that she hadn't waited to tell Quinn first like she had planned, but under the scrutinizing gaze of the elder Fabrays, she felt like she had to say something.

At this Quinn gaped at her, "You what?"

Her inquiry was cut off by Russel, "A narcotics detective? You think you have the moxy for that? You're just a little thing. If I recall, Finn, you tried out for that spot right?"

At this Finn choked on his water a little and Rachel felt herself bristling, suddenly understanding why Quinn wouldn't want a meeting between them, "Not necessarily narcotics, but I am fully capable of taking on the position, whichever branch I choose once I get promoted."

"Yeah, she really is a great cop and she pays serious attention to detail, so I think she would make an excellent detective." Finn piped, his voice a little gruff from choking.

"You didn't tell me anything about this before," Quinn said in a slightly accusatory tone.

Rachel tried not to glare as she replied, "It is rather irritating when people do things without consulting the proper authorities, but I assure you it is a well thought out decision."

"One I think we should have discussed."

"I hardly see how your opinion would matter seeing as how it is my career and you knew I never intended to stay on the beat."

Russel and Judy watched the exchange with bemusement, Finn was choking on water again.

"Quinnie dear if Ms. Berry wants to advance her career I don't see why you of all people would be against it," Judy said, a small polite smile on her face.

Realizing how much of a scene she was making, Quinn quickly changed course, "I'm not against advancement I just think an officer of Rachel's caliber would be better suited to something a little less dangerous."

Judy frowned, "Is being a detective dangerous? I always thought the craziness on television was exaggerated. Besides how can it be that much more dangerous than running down crack fiends on foot?"

"You are correct Mrs. Fabray television does exaggerate the danger, as is Quinn at the moment. There can be inherent dangers, but in the event that I even receive a case like that, and am in on the apprehension of a possibly dangerous criminal, I am quite well practiced in self defense."

"It will take more than self defense to make the cut," Quinn said sharply.

She looked anywhere but at her girlfriend feeling a little too confrontational for an eye to eye, "I am aware. In any case Santana has agreed to take the exam with me so I feel that either way I will be quite safe."

She could practically feel Quinn's eyes on her as she said that, and even though she knew she should definitely have withheld that information until they were alone Quinn's lack of faith in her, piled on top of everything else, spurred her to be a little mean.

"Santana's taking the test with you?" Finn asked before the stunned Sergeant could.

"Yes," Rachel said as if that were the most normal thing in the world.

"Santana… Isn't she that dyke that was at the party after you got your promotion?" Russel asked his daughter.

Rachel felt her mouth move before her brain, "Excuse me?" she said indignantly.

"Erm, yeah Santana was there," Finn said as if this could somehow divert the train wreck that was about to happen.

"The dyke. At Quinn's promotion party," he said as if Rachel's question had been born of hearing issues, "You remember, right Judy?"

His wife nodded with a grimace, "Yes that was her, she was gallivanting around with this other woman, being outright indecent."

"I suppose it was before you started working for the NYPD, but if you can avoid that woman you should, she's bad news." Russel said, Judy nodded in agreement.

"She's my partner," Rachel said flatly.

Quinn gave her a helpless look trying to convey she understood her distress and wished for her not to push it.

"That's not right. Forcing other women to be in a car with a gay lady like that, they should put a man with her to balance it out," Judy chimed taking a sip of wine.

"Are you kidding?" Rachel asked not able to figure out how two people could be so thoroughly insulting.

"Not at all," said Russel seriously in between bites of steak. "From the moment I first saw that Santana I knew she was trouble and I have sent letters to the Lieutenant about her as well. It's just unseemly for someone like that to pretend to uphold the law."

"She is an exceptional officer and one of the best friends I have ever had in my life!"

Seeing how badly this was going Quinn interjected, "Well, Santana can be a bit trying, but her sexuality has never been an issue when she's on the job. In any case have either of you heard from Fran?"

The brunette was still seething when Russel turned to his daughter, "Not yet she called Judy an hour ago and said she was nearby, so I can only imagine that means she will be here any second."

"It'll be nice to see her again," Finn said trying to keep the topic friendly.

"She and Brandon have their five year anniversary coming up," Judy said giving Quinn a hard look.

Rachel noticed Finn choking again and Quinn's face went red.

"Can we not go down that road?" the blonde said quickly.

Judy shrugged and glanced over at Rachel, "What about you, dear? Do you have anyone special?"

From the corner of her eye she could see Quinn pretend to be interested in the mashed potatoes on her plate, but her posture proved she was totally focused on Rachel's answer.

"Yes, I do."

"Well that's nice. I always feel that it's twice as hard for a female officer to find a man. Especially if you are seen with the likes of that lesbian woman."

"Mom can you not drill her on personal issues," Quinn said, her distress plain in her voice.

"No, it isn't particularly difficult since neither of us are looking at men-"

"Rachel," Quinn warned.

"Stop trying to censor me when this offensive shit is being flung across the table!" Rachel snapped.

All was quiet, save for the sound of Finn sputtering on more water.

Russel was the first to speak, but his hard grey eyes were focused solely on his daughter, "Are you going to let your subordinate talk to you like that?" he asked, almost dangerously.

"Yes, Quinn, are you going to let a subordinate talk to you like that?" Rachel challenged glaring at the woman she thought she knew.

How could she be okay with the things they were saying? In what way did she work out this was fine?

Quinn looked panicked, her mouth opening and closing as her eyes darted back and forth between her father and her girlfriend, not knowing what to say. The doorbell's shrill cry broke through the tense air, but before Quinn could get the chance to bow out, Finn had already dashed out of his seat and down the hall saying, "S'prolly Fran I'll get it!"

Seeing that Quinn wasn't going to stand up for her, Rachel shook her head and stood, "Well it has certainly been interesting meeting you both, but I have other business to attend to and must take my leave," she said, an edge in her voice, and stormed out.

As she approached the door, she saw a tall blonde woman with gorgeous waist length hair and the most delicate features heightened by her knee length teal dress, accompanied by a man who looked like Russel twenty years prior. Rachel could tell at a glance that this was indeed Fran and she also saw in the girls beautiful green eyes that she was probably every bit as mean and prejudice as her father. The look she gave Rachel as she passed only confirmed it further. She was so furious she didn't even comment.

With great effort she marched to her car and managed to get in and drive away before anyone could stop her, not that anyone was trying. Preemptively she shut her phone off knowing no one would try and call her back to that house, but not wanting to be reminded no one cared.

There was an hour where she didn't know where she was going, she just drove and ended up back at the precinct realizing she had nowhere else to go. It stung a little as she noted that the only person she had to turn to in the city was Santana. The Latina may grumble, groan and complain, but in the end she would listen and offer honest advice. Rather than bother the other woman with her relationship issues she considered calling her dads, she even let her finger hover over the power button, but ended up shoving it back in her purse. Her fathers may talk a good game about following her heart, but they never liked anyone she dated, ever. They would be prickly about their little girl dating even though she was twenty five and had been in and out of countless relationships and it would become a hostile situation the moment they found out what had her upset. Heaven forbid they discover it wasn't the first time something like this had happened. Resigned she rerouted herself for the home of the only person who would listen.

As expected Santana almost slammed the door in her face the moment she opened it, but luckily Brittany was there and caught it before it could close.

"Come in!" she chirped, ignoring the glares from Santana.

"Thanks," Rachel said sheepishly as she walked in the door and into the living room.

On the small coffee table she saw two glasses of wine and a plate of what could either be a sandwich or an abstract sculpture of one. It was then that she realized that she had interrupted another romantic evening, but in all fairness they seemed to always have them. Rachel didn't even bother to pretend she wasn't jealous.

With a heavy sigh Santana plopped down onto the floor leaning against the couch, Brittany sat on it nestling Santana between her legs and running her fingers through her long black hair.

Rachel sat across from them thinking maybe she should just excuse herself and find a bar to cry her woes to when Brittany spoke.

"Rachel you look sad, what's wrong?"

"Tell us in ten words or less," Santana grumbled.

"I didn't mean to interrupt your evening," Rachel said, for some reason reluctant to just say what was bothering her.

"Not at all, would you like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?" Brittany asked gesturing to the sandwich/sculpture on the table.

Rachel eyed it warily, then she saw a look in Santana's eyes that told her to steer clear, "No thanks."

"Alright but it's super good, Santana won't even try it," she said with a pout.

The brunette shrugged, "Full on wine babe."

"You, um, you made this?" Rachel leaned to the side trying to take the disaster in from all angles, "What's in it?"

"A lot of good stuff, but don't worry there's no meat."

That's not what I am worried about, "I just came from a dinner so no thanks," she said, and the truth made her chest feel hollow again.

"Will you just spill it so you can get the hell…" Santana's sentence melted in her mouth as Brittany rubbed her scalp in a way that threw copious amounts of ice cold water on her fiery Latina temper.

Rachel couldn't help the small twitch of a smile that came over her face as she watched Santana mellow completely at Brittany's touch. It was like watching someone tame a particularly hostile tiger.

"Is it Quinn?" Brittany asked as if nothing had happened.

"Yeah," she admitted finally, "Every time I think we have made some sort of progress she just finds some way to show me we haven't."

"Not to be redundant, but you are dating a total bi-" Brittany's fingers moved in that way again and for a second time Santana fell silent, she seemed to almost purr in response.

The blonde smiled down at her tamed beast before she asked, "What happened?"

"She forgot about our date night," she said and paused not knowing how to really phrase the rest.

"That's it? She forgot date night?" Santana asked finally able to finish a sentence, the amusing part was she didn't seem to have noticed she had abandoned the first two.

"No, that's not all… when I went to her house I found she forgot because her family was over and though she didn't remember to invite me or to at least cancel our date, she did remember to make an entire dinner spread and invite Finn over to make an impression on them."

"Wow," Santana said looking amazed, "That's fucked up, but you should cut her a little slack."

Both Rachel and Brittany were surprised by that statement.

"What?" Rachel said knowing that if Santana thought she was overreacting to a slight by Quinn she was truly overreacting.

"I mean… not that I am defending her, but, her parents are like the worst people ever."

"Oh trust me I know," Rachel snorted.

"It's just, she seems to love them a lot but they already hate a few things about her that they aren't afraid to blab about, like the fact that she's an officer. My guess is she was probably trying not to sever things entirely with them because, as horrible as they are, she does want to be on at least friendly terms with them and her dating a woman, that wouldn't work out."

Old suspicions began swirling in her head, "How in the world do you know all that when you two never talk about anything except how much you hate each other?"

Santana shrugged leaning back into Brittany's slowly circling fingers, "When she got her promotion I went to the party and… it honestly wasn't hard to figure out from there. Her parents aren't exactly the type to have an internal monologue and everything that flows through their heads is either stupid, sexist, racists or some insane combination of the three. That plus the way she puts on the daddy's little girl act combined with her mother's submissive nature means her father is king of the roost, the women follow and, again given the nature of his comments, he would not allow for her to break rank, er, so to speak."

These words reassured her that Santana would make an excellent detective, "I know. It's not that I am really upset at her for what her parents said, I just was not ready to hear what I did and watch Quinn just sit there and let them say those things without challenging a word of it. Not to mention I had to pretend like she wasn't my girlfriend, and then there was Finn..."

"Whoa! I get it Berry it was totally fucked, I'm just saying… you know… I get it, when, um, it comes to parents and shit. It can just be really difficult to tell them to shove it because once you do that, it's a hard door to open again," she said quietly.

As Santana spoke, Rachel saw Brittany give her girlfriend a tender, understanding look.

"I just feel like she is ashamed of me," Rachel looked determinedly at her hands clasped tightly in her lap trying not to seem as venerable as she was.

"Quinn loves you. A lot. It's really obvious," Brittany said.

Rachel laughed, but it sounded pathetic, "She just doesn't want anyone to know. I know it's over with her and Finn, but seeing him there at the table welcomed by her parents was eye opening. I love her so much and I just can't imagine ever putting her through something like that, for any reason. My dads have hated every boyfriend I have ever had and I doubt they will turn over a new leaf for Quinn but I would never let them lay into her like her parents did to me. It just wouldn't happen."

"This isn't just parent girlfriend bullying that she could just chastise them for. I don't think she is ashamed of you and I don't think she cares who knows since she seemed more proud than anything when you 'announced' your relationship at the precinct," Rachel tried not to blush furiously and failed, "but her parents would more than likely never speak to her as long as you are officially in the picture. It isn't like she is scared of their possible reaction, she clearly knows their reaction and is trying to avoid it."

"So I should just accept it then? Continue to just be her work friend whenever her parents are around?" Rachel said, anger leaking into her speech.

Santana got a pained look as if even she didn't like the taste of her own words, "Yeah actually."

Rachel just gaped at her, that was the second totally unexpected answer she had gotten, "Are you serious?"

She nodded, "This thing with Quinn and her parents, it's heavy stuff. I don't know the Fabrays that well but if she tells them about you it will more than likely be the family fight of the century. It's… I hate to say this, but it's not a fight you start on behalf of a three month girlfriend."

"Really?" she snapped, her feathers quite ruffled, "Wouldn't you start a fight like that for Brittany?"

"At the drop of a hat, but unlike Quinn I wouldn't be trying to salvage ties. If I still talked to my parents and they started to mouth off about her, I would burn those bridges to the ground, but that's not the way everyone wants to handle their family."

Brittany gave Santana another one of those almost shamefully loving smiles and wrapped her arms around the other woman's neck nuzzling her hair.

"So how long should we date before I'm worth it?" she asked clearly still irate.

"That's something for you and Quinn to figure out. The answer clearly isn't three months."

"You should talk to her about it," Brittany's voice was muffled through Santana's hair. "I bet you ran away without giving her a chance to make it better."

"No," she snapped, irritated that even Brittany knew that habit of hers, "Well I did at first but we talked."

"About how to tell her parents about you two? Or was it all Quinn trying to talk you out of your tantrum over being left out?" Santana said.

Rachel became very interested in the television that was next to her, even though it was off.

"This just happened right?" Brittany asked and Rachel nodded, "Then I bet this whole time she has been trying to call you."

Rachel pulled her phone out and turned it on ready to show Brittany the lack of missed calls but to her surprise, even as the display lit up to show her seventeen missed calls, her phone rang in her hands. Still in shock she flipped it open half expecting it to be an emergency at the station.

"Hello?" came Quinn's unsure voice from the other side, "Hello? Rachel?"

"Uh, yeah," she glanced over at Brittany, and seeing the knowing smile and twinkle in her eyes, turned back towards the television.

"I'm so sorry about tonight," she said quickly, "I shouldn't have- I didn't-"

"Quinn it's alright, we can talk about it later."

"Can we talk about it tonight? You can come by at about eleven thirty," her voice was soft and cautious, it reminded Rachel of a scared rabbit.

"Yeah, I guess."

"Rachel. Are we okay?"

"I don't know are we?" her question had more anger than she had intended and from the corner of her eye she could see Brittany give a chastising frown.

"Rach, please…"

"We'll talk later."

"Alright, but I just need you to know that tonight wasn't about you, it wasn't about them not seeing you or getting to know you."

"I know you explained that to me already, I said I understood, I did then and I do now. Like I said we'll talk about it later," she said and hung up unable to say another word without crying about it.

She looked over to try and explain the new development to Brittany and Santana but to her surprise she found the two locked in a heated kiss and Brittany's hand was making its way down Santana's shirt.

"Right I'll just see myself out then," she said, and took off for the door.

"Rachel!" Brittany called out before she could make it out, it was almost comical to hear Santana's groan at the loss of contact.

The smaller woman turned to see Brittany looking at her seriously, even though she was a bit flushed, "Just remember how she feels about you, remember that she's hurting too because she wants her family to know about you."

From somewhere unseen on the other side of the couch Rachel heard, "Oh my gawd Berry just go get your happy ending or whatever-" Brittany never took her eyes off of Rachel but her shoulder moved and whatever that motion led her hand to do had Santana bite off her words with a moan of pleasure.

"She'll be beating herself up pretty bad about it so go easy okay?"

Rachel nodded and exited, finding herself unable to contain a laugh at the noises that followed her out as it was clear Brittany had taken total control of the situation.

To waste time she drove aimlessly around town before she drove back to Quinn's and parked a block away from the house. It made her feel like a stalker to just be out there and even more so as she watched her family leave. Her sister was first, the woman and her husband were escorted by Finn to their car, the taller man laughing and talking the whole way. Then Mr. and Mrs. Fabray came out with Quinn, her father seemed to be parenting her about something and her mother was dutifully agreeing. Rachel wasn't sure if it was narcissism, paranoia, or intuition that made her feel it was about her. The family left, but Finn went back inside only to leave over twenty minutes later, Rachel decided to believe he was helping with cleanup because she had already promised herself not to let her insecurities about him get in the way again.

Then finally, after Finn too had left, she pulled her car into the driveway and got out, Quinn was at the door almost immediately.

"Rachel," she said the name as if it were a greeting and an apology rolled into one.

"For the record I don't think it is a good idea for us to talk tonight. I'm still upset," she admitted. "We both know I can be a tad unreasonable when I am upset."

"A tad?" Quinn laughed wrapping her in a tight hug, "Sweetheart your meter goes from overdramatic to nuclear meltdown, but tonight I really did earn it."

"Do you ever plan to tell your parents about us?" Rachel was blunt because she just couldn't handle subtle at the moment.

"Can we go inside first?" she asked, it was clear she wasn't avoiding anything, just unwilling to have this particular talk in the driveway.

They moved inside and into the kitchen where Quinn began to pull out preparations for a vegan friendly diet, Rachel would have told her not to but she hadn't eaten all day in anticipation of their date that never happened.

Quinn moved around with a purpose, but her brow was furrowed meaning she was deep in thought, "I don't know if I can tell my dad."

"Why?" she asked, her voice stony and she didn't care how that came off.

"It would lead to a fight, a huge fight, and I am just now getting to a point where he accepts me as his own daughter again."

"What does that even mean?" Rachel knew it was impolite to ask, but she could not understand how the father of such a beautiful successful woman would not want to be associated with her.

After a pause she pulled a pan out from under the oven, "It means growing up he and I have said things to each other that it's taken the better part of fifteen years for us to get to a place where we can be in the same room. I'm already one snarky comment away from being disowned and after all I've sacrificed to get us here I just want everything to remain calm."

"You think he would disown you because you are a lesbian?"

She rolled her eyes, "Without a doubt. He'd disown me if he heard a rumor that I voted for a Democrat in the last election." The face Rachel made at that let the other woman know a better explanation was needed and she would have to brace herself to give it. Rubbing her forehead roughly she set the pan down and took a deep breath. "I know that if my father knew how serious I am about you he would never talk to me again and he would make damn sure every relation I have didn't either, he has that kind of power in our family. He isn't stupid, he knows about my sexual preferences, but he's content to let me be however I want in private as long as it never comes out in public."

"So he's all don't ask don't tell? And you find that acceptable?" Rachel asked in disbelief.

"Yes, I did. Until I met you."

"I know you can't help but love your father but… why would you want a relationship with a person who is so violently against who you are?"

She stood looking like someone who was desperate to be understood, "My dad wasn't always this way. When I was little he was the most loving and gentle man I ever knew, we did everything together, but that was before puberty. Once I hit high school we clashed over and over again about just about everything, it lead to boys and drugs and that led to us barely saying a word to each other. He threw me out of the house for a month over it until my mom talked him into letting me back in. Ever since then I've just been scrambling to play catch-up in hopes to be able to see that man again." She sighed and slumped against the counter, "Maybe that person isn't in there anymore or maybe he never was, but I just can't stop trying to find him. When he is being the man he should be he treats my mother like a queen and she naturally falls in line with that and is as kind as he is."

"And you haven't found anything that makes him treat you like his daughter again?"

Rachel could tell Quinn was really done sharing, however her girlfriend sucked in a deep breath and went on, "Things are actually much better now, when I left high school I was feeling a bit rebellious after trying so hard and getting nowhere with him so I joined the NYPD instead of the medical career he'd planned out for me. Of course it displeased him, but when I made Sergeant he showed up to my promotion party like me joining the force had been his idea."

"Why didn't you ever tell me any of this before now?" Rachel asked, the edge in her voice was back, but she couldn't help it.

"It's not something you just launch into from casual conversation."

Her face fell and she could feel that familiar heavy sting of tears, "It's not something you launch into with your three month girlfriend."

"It's not about how long I've known you, I just don't talk about it. Like Finn, it's just not something I ever want brought up. I'm not hiding it, it just hurts too much to dig up for no reason."

"No reason," she said and there were a million meanings in those words.

Quinn pushed off the counter and pulled Rachel to her, holding her close, "I should have told you all this, back when Finn was an issue. No. Before then, back when I knew I loved you more than I have ever loved anyone I should have told you, because it affects you. That is more than reason enough."

"But you didn't, and I can't help but wonder what I will find out next. I mean there are so many things I don't know about what you've already told me and I feel like if I ask you'll either shut me out or I'll hate the answer," she said softly, a sense of pride taking over at being able to finish that sentence without crying.

Quinn just held her for a moment, the silence of the room only broken by Rachel's carefully controlled breathing and the thump of her heart in her ears, "When my dad kicked me out I stayed with friends on occasion and there were a couple of nights that I just slept on the streets or on school grounds when I could manage. When Finn found out he told his family about what had happened and they took me in even though I never gave him the time of day at school. He had no reason to offer his home but he did and even after I was allowed back in the house I could always go to his place when things got to be too much at home. He was already at the police academy when I joined, he helped me every step of the way and had my back through all the sexist shit and against Santana, as useless as he was against her. Finn was the only person who was what my father should have been and I thought that meant I should love him and marry him so I did, but it turned out that wasn't a good idea."

"What was Puck about? Couldn't you have just separated with Finn and moved on without hurting him."

At this question she felt Quinn stiffen and pull away from her, "It was a hard lesson on what my alcohol tolerance is."

Rachel could see in her face that she was pushing too hard, that was open as Quinn wanted to be, this was too much, it was a deep rooted pain being exposed in batches from a person who kept her private affairs very private. She knew and still she pushed because she needed to know more, she had to so she could feel like she had even the slightest idea who she had given her heart to.

"Quinn why Puck?" she asked, needing to know.

The blonde gave her a hard look one that was probing yet totally guarded, "I was drunk," and her face was impassive in a way that made Rachel want to call her on it.

"Is that all? Is that the end of it? Is there going to be an evil twin sister that tries to seduce me or an age old curse that will kill me in seven days if I go into your basement?"

A weak smile crossed her face; it was a sad, tired and didn't light her face like it usually would, "No, that's all."

Rachel smiled back at her and fell into her arms, "Thank you for telling me all that," she said tremulously feeling that maybe now her heart could settle.

"Do you think Rachel and Quinn made up yet?" Brittany asked as she rummaged through the kitchen cabinets.

Santana missed the question as she was enjoying the view of Brittany reaching for a top shelf without a stitch of clothing, "Huh?"

Brittany giggled turning with the newly retrieved box of cereal, "Quinn and Rachel? Do you think they made up?"

"Does it matter?" Santana huffed hating her mood being spoiled by thoughts of those two.

"Santana quit pretending like they aren't your friends," Brittany sighed as she sat at the table across from Santana and poured a bowl of Cheerios for herself.

"Hold it! You may get away with calling Rachel a friend but not Quinn, she has not been, nor ever will be my friend."

She smiled and offered a spoonful of cereal to Santana only to pull it away when she tried to eat it, putting the spoon in her own mouth instead. Giving a cheeky grin she chewed and swallowed, "I can get away with whatever I want."

Santana wanted to give some sort of retort but it was flat out true, so instead she just decided to gracefully change the topic, "Hey so, I was thinking about changing departments, it'll mean longer hours at first, but ultimately I should end up being able to spend more time at home. What do you think? "

Brittany thought it over, "Is that what you want?"

"No… yes… maybe, I don't know."

She laughed before genuinely offering the smaller woman a spoonful of cereal, "Well when I don't know if I'll like something I just try it out until I know."

"I do too but… I mean is that something you would want?"

"More time with you? Of course. But I don't if you aren't happy with what you have to do to get it."

Santana gave a playful smile as she rolled her eyes, "Yes, we are the most adorable couple in the world who are only happy if the other person is, but what I mean is, I know you're bored around here and I'm not one hundred percent sure I am the answer to that problem."

"What makes you think I'm bored?" Brittany asked, looking a little surprised.

"Babe, you've beaten every video game in this house, you have reorganized my pantry twice, once by size and once alphabetically, your Netflix is full of spy and or espionage flicks and you turned my back yard into an obstacle course. I think you miss being in action and I understand it, I mean if I didn't have my job I don't know what I'd do with that much spare time."

It wasn't since Santana had found out her true identity that Brittany had looked this caught, she shuffled a little and sat back, her playful mood having melted away.

"I'm not bored with you," she said quietly.

"You're bored of being cooped up in this house, I get it. I just want to know if what you want to do with some of your spare time is spend it with me or, I dunno, do you want to get a job somewhere?"

A small laugh came from her, "Well Lauren didn't print a high school diploma for me so I don't know about that. I like the idea of working again, but not more than the idea of spending more time together. I think it would be fun to travel."

As much as she wanted to continue her girlfriend's line of thought she had to pause, "You kept your real name right? Can't we just pull up your original diploma?"

She shook her head, "I never went to high school."

Santana stared back at her in surprise, not because she hadn't gone to high school, but that after so long this was her first time learning that. She wanted to ask more, to ask why, but then she remembered why it was so easy for those facts to escape her, they were in the past, and so was Artie. Through all their talks she had never been able to pin down exactly when Brittany had met him, so she had avoided asking about anything that predated his death. This was the consequence and she knew she was being stupid because it was going to come up at some point. However the longer she could hold off that heartache the better.

"Where would you like to travel?" she asked casually.

"All over, I want to see the whole world!"

The other woman's enthusiasm lifted her spirits, "I would have guessed you've seen it all."

"I mean I suppose I have, but that was always for work, I never got to go anywhere nice to relax."

Another glance into the past that had her curious, but the threat of hearing how wonderful Artie was on some mission was too much.

"How about this, I go for detective and save up all my vacation time to take you on a round the world trip?"

Brittany thought it over while chewing a large mouthful of cereal, after a heady swallow she responded, "Only if I get a job and get to pay for everything while we're away."

Santana chuckled, "It doesn't matter who pays."

"No, but it matters that we both work hard to get what we want, I would feel bad if you left all your friends to work with new people all to do something nice for me while I just sit around at home."

"Alright," leaning forward she stole the spoon and bowl from Brittany's grasp, "But I'm an expensive date."

A/N: So this story has the distinction of being 3 things. 1) The Epilogue to Short Change Hero 2) The Prologue to Short Change Hero 2 and 3) the 9th chapter of the mini stories I wrote for this series.

Anyway, blah blah blah, life, blah blah blah, excuses, blah blah blah, tentative promise to start updating more regularly.

Honestly though I will try my damndest to get the sequel done asap.