The Story of Us - Quinn Fabray

Gardenias, why?

Quinn's frustration was palpable as she forcefully clinked the spoon against her cereal bowl. Her parents exchanged surprised and amused glances in response to their daughter's tantrum.

"And then he said 'cute name' and left, can you believe it?" she exclaimed, recounting the encounter with a mix of disbelief and irritation.

"Honey, it's been almost four years since you saw each other, and you're blonde now, and you use your middle name. It's normal that he didn't recognize you," Judy remarked sympathetically, casting a concerned look at her daughter.

Russel couldn't contain his amusement, wearing a triumphant grin that seemed misplaced, prompting raised eyebrows from both his wife and daughter.

"Dad, why are you smiling like that? You only smile like that when the Bengals win and they lost last week."

"Now that he's back in the picture, does that mean you're going to dump that boyfriend of yours...What was his name again? Rick?" His disapproval of Finn was evident, believing that the Hudson boy was not deserving of his little girl.

Quinn, rolling her eyes, stood abruptly from the table, snatching her cheerleading jacket. "His name is Finn, Dad, and you know it. You should try to get along with him."

"It's not my fault he can't stand a man-to-man talk," her father grumbled. "He literally doesn't know who our president is, for God's sake. He's not even a Christian."

"Yes, he is, Dad," Quinn retorted, rifling through her backpack for car keys and switching on her cell phone to check the time. It was 7:45, and she was running late. She still needed to pick up Santana and Brittany. "Well, I have to go, or else I'll be late. I love you," she called out before walking out the door.

As the door closed behind her, Russel's disapproving commentary resumed. "I'm telling you, Judy, that boy doesn't deserve our daughter." His wife laughed, their domestic routine continuing as they cleared the table.

"Russ, you don't like anyone but Isaac."

"You can't blame me. Even when he was eleven, he was the ideal son-in-law. He bought our daughter flowers every day. Gardenias, Judy, gardenias. Her current boyfriend can't even be bothered to come pick her up. Do you remember the first time we met him? He didn't even look at me when I shook his hand."

"You're a bit of an imposing man, Russ," Judy said, patting her husband's chest as she grabbed her purse and keys. "and you made him call you Mr.Fabray every time he spoke to you. Quinn's right; you should try to be nicer, no matter how much you don't like him. And also, stop comparing him to Isaac."

"Speaking of which," Russel's tone shifted, a note of seriousness creeping in, "do you think it's true what she said? That he didn't recognize her? She's very insistent that Isaac is faking it."

"They had a fatal car accident, and Isaac was the only survivor. It's common to suffer loss and post-traumatic stress in cases like this. I have friends in New York; I can ask them if they know what Isaac's diagnosis was after the accident."

"She's changed a lot, Judy, and I know it's partially my fault but I don't want anyone to hurt her. She doesn't even talk to us about what she really feels, and she barely talks about anything other than cheerleading or complaining about Glee club or her boyfriend. I don't want us to be the last to find out if something happens to her. I don't want... I don't want a repeat of what happened in Fairbrook."

"Hey," His wife grabbed him by the shoulders, offering reassurance, "that's not going to happen, okay? I talk to Maribel and Whitney from time to time, and they told me we have nothing to worry about."